BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Get an insight into the centuries-old history of the Muslim community in Poland, known as Tatar Muslims, at an exhibition at the Laksamana College of Business (LCB) in Batu Satu.
Launched on Monday, the exhibition dubbed ‘The Tatars: Muslims in the Republic of Poland’, is a collaboration between LCB and the Embassy of Poland in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and features pictures and history of the Muslim Polish community.
“Muslims have been living in Poland for more than 600 years,” said LCB Director of Academic Studies/Operations Bogusia Mischke.
“The first of its kind in Brunei, [the exhibition is] dedicated to providing the insight of Islamic civilisation in Poland, as well as the culture and food to Bruneians.”
Poland’s Ambassador-Designate Professor Krzysztof Debnicki, said there are currently 2,000 to 3,000 of the Muslim Tatar community residing in Poland.
“They live in compact communities in the Eastern part of the country, where they have their own villages, mosques, festivals and even Halal food. They are part of the Polish community.”
He noted, “Some of the best known literary figures of Poland in the 19th century, including the most popular writer, were also part of the Muslim Tatar community.”
Debnicki hopes that the students and members of the public will take the opportunity to learn more about the community and its history.
The exhibition, which is open for free to members of the public, is located at level 2 of the college and will run until May 3 on Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 5pm.
“We believe with the launching of this historic event, it will be another global collaboration that we have envisioned,” said Mischke.
“It is our great hope and wish that we will take this alliance between the Polish Embassy and Bruneians further. Together, shoulder to shoulder let us embark on a new frontier.”