Sanjak was an UNPO member between 1993 and 2011. 

The Sanjak (Sandžak) region—split between modern-day Serbia and Montenegro—is home to a large Bosniak (Muslim Slavic) population that has long voiced demands for political rights, cultural recognition, and greater economic development. During its UNPO membership, the Bosnian National Council of Sanjak (BNCS), originally founded as the Muslim National Council of Sandžak, advocated for special status for Sanjak, the protection of collective rights for Bosniaks, and socio-economic support for what was one of the most underdeveloped regions in the former Yugoslavia.

The BNCS repeatedly raised concerns about under‑representation in state institutions, corruption, and loss of communal property seized during the communist period. They also campaigned for the return of community assets and for Bosnian (or Bosniak) language rights in education, arguing their identity and identity institutions had been marginalised. Additionally, the BNCS condemned human rights abuses, particularly during the 1990s Balkan wars, when many Bosniaks in Sanjak were displaced, and their villages suffered violence, looting, and destruction.

The people of Sanjak are predominantly Bosniaks, a Muslim Slavic group whose identity is shaped by Bosnian language, Islamic faith, and a sense of historical belonging that transcends national borders. Their Bosniak identity is closely tied to their religious institutions: the region has its own Islamic community structures which link them culturally to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Linguistically, Bosniak (Bosnian) dialects are spoken in Sandžak, though language politics remain disputed, especially given divergent policies in Serbia and Montenegro and tensions over whether Bosnian should be taught in schools. The Bosniak identity in Sandžak also carries strong historical memory of Ottoman-era governance, communal property, and self-governance in local Muslim-majority towns.

Culturally, Sandžak Bosniaks maintain traditional social and religious practices, including Sufi and Sunni Muslim traditions, and they place great importance on preserving their heritage in the face of economic and political marginalisation. Activists and community leaders emphasize their Bosniak nationality (not simply a regional identity), seeking recognition of their distinct national character within Serbia and Montenegro.

Sanjak, historically known as the Sanjak of Novi Pazar, was established under the Ottoman Empire and served as an important administrative unit with a significant Muslim Slavic population. After the Balkan Wars in the early 20th century, the region was divided between Serbia and Montenegro, but its Bosniak inhabitants remained a distinct community.

During the socialist Yugoslav era, Bosniaks in Sandžak faced political, economic, and cultural pressures. According to historical analyses, their national status was not fully recognised, and they often lacked institutional power. Economic underdevelopment and weak infrastructure further marginalised the region. The collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s brought renewed political mobilisation: the Muslim National Council of Sandžak, later the BNCS, formed to demand autonomy, recognition of Bosniak identity, and protection of rights.

During the violent conflicts of the 1990s, the Sanjak region suffered significant upheaval: many Bosniak villages were targeted, and there were allegations of ethnic cleansing, torture, and forced displacement. In the post-war period, Bosniak leaders continued to press for political representation, restitution of communal property confiscated under socialist rule, and the institutionalisation of Bosniak cultural and educational rights. Since then, Sandžak’s Bosniaks have made some political gains: they have elected Bosniak National Councils, pushed for the inclusion of the Bosnian language in education (particularly in Serbia), and maintained a distinct national and religious identity, even as the region remains economically underdeveloped and politically fragile.