The City of Zenica and the Penitentiary, located almost in its very centre, never got along well. The town always dealt with the prison like with a bad neighbour by whom it is embarrassed but also a little frightened. Therefore, it has been trying to get rid of the prison for many years. It turned to emperors and presidents of the different states it was a part of, but all attempts were in vain. The Penitentiary survived for 120 years, it was and still is a symbol by which Zenica was recognized in former Yugoslavia and largely in Europe.

Selvedin Avdić