Thousands of Muslims all over Bulgaria gathered to protest against the decision to reinstate Nedim Gendzhev as the Muslim religious leader in Bulgaria.

Imams and regular Muslims rallied in 23 Bulgarian cities and towns on Friday expressing their discontent and continuing their protests triggered by the decision of the Bulgarian Supreme Court of Cassation from May 12 to remove Ali Hadzhi as Chief Mufti, and to restore Gendzhev.

On Thrusday, the Chief Mufti's Office in Bulgaria sent an open letter to the media, urging Muslims from all over the country to take part in the new wave of protests on Friday.

“We hope for publicity that will give a chance to the Muslim community to express their position on questions regarding their religious freedoms. We urge the government to take the necessary actions as soon as possible in order to prevent lowering Bulgaria's prestige and disturbing the Muslim society in Bulgaria,” the letter says.

According to the regional Mufti in the Bulgarian city of Pleven, Hadzhi Nedzhiatin Mustafa Nedzhip, Gendzhev is trying to bring back the Revival Process, which was a campaign of the former Communist regime, during which the Muslim's native names have been replaced with Bulgarian ones.

Nedzhip believes that Gendzhev is also trying to eliminate the creed, so that the Muslims cannot profess their religion freely, adding that Gendzhev has sent letters to the municipalities all over Bulgaria to ask for demolishing Muslim board of trustees.

In October 2009, the National Muslim Conference decided to elect Mustafa Ali Hadzhi as Chief Mufti. However, Gendzev appealed the Conference's vote and the Bulgarian Supreme Court of Cassations decided to reinstated him as Chief Mufti in May.

“It is not fair that one and a half million Muslims in Bulgaria are against Nedim Gendzev and at the same time the Supreme Court is declaring him Chief of these same Muslims,” the regional Mufti from the Bulgarian city of Haskovo said.

The muftis has issued a declaration that Mustafa Ali Hadzhi is the only legally elected Chief Mufti in Bulgaria. They were saying they will send the declaration to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, The European Commission, the President, Georgi Parvanov, the Speaker of the Parliament, Tsetska Tsacheva, the Chairs of all Parliamentary Groups, the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Judicial Council, and the Ombudsman.

Mustafa Ali Hadzhi declared the Court is showing disregard for the vote and the wish of the people, and has been influenced by external factors, adding the Muslim community in Bulgaria will continue its fight for justice.

Gendzhev is notorious in Bulgaria over allegations of trading in political influence and Prosecutor's charges of illegally withdrawing huge sums from the accounts of the Chief Mufti Office.

At the beginning of June, around 1 000 Muslims participated in a rally, which started in front of the Sofia Mosque, walked by the Presidential and Council of Ministers buildings and ended in front of the Parliament.

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