HOT: » Which party would you vote for (if you could) in the upcoming snap vote in Bulgaria on April 19?
Send to Kindle
Some 100 imams and other Muslims were prevented by the police from blocking a major road in Southwest Bulgaria in protest. Photo by BGNES
The Bulgarian police have prevented about 100 imams from blockading a major in Southwestern Bulgaria in protest against the reinstatement of Nedim Gendzhev as Chief Mufti.
The Muslim priests were faced with about 200 policemen near the town of Simitli, and we unable to stage a full-fledged protest.
“We were thinking of blockading the highway by we have no chance against this police presence. Apparently, we are living in a police state,” declared imam Aydon Mohamed, the head of Muslims in Simitli.
The Mayor of the southern municipality of Garmen Ahmed Bashev, who was investigated for promoting radical Islam back in 2009, also arrived to support the protest.
The police have themselves blocked the major road in order to prevent the protesters from gaining control over it.
The angry Muslim priests cursed the Bulgarian authorities for ruining their protest, and one has even cursed Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to break his leg within 1 month.
The Simili mufti Aydon Mohamed has urged all imams to gather for a national protest in downtown Sofia on July 29 at 11 am. The failed protest rally was ended with a prayer in Arabic.
The Muslim community in Bulgaria has been protested ever since a ruling of the Supreme Court of Cassation from May 12 reinstated Nedim Gendzhev as Chief Mufti.
So far, there have been four peaceful protests. On July 10, the Bulgarian Muslims even demanded a conduction of an emergency Muslim conference, overseen by representatives of the EU member states. The reason for the demand was the reinstatement of Gendzhev as the Muslim religious leader in Bulgaria.
In October 2009, the National Muslim Conference decided to elect Mustafa Ali Hadzhias 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.
The muftis have issued a declaration that Mustafa Ali Hadzhi is the only legally elected Chief Mufti in Bulgaria.
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.
A specialized police operation targeting vote buying has led to the arrest of three individuals in the town of Byala Slatina, authorities confirmed
Three of the four foreign nationals injured in the knife attacks in central Sofia have been discharged from hospital after receiving medical treatment, health institutions confirmed
Authorities in Sofia have seized a significant quantity of narcotics during a coordinated operation
Bulgarian authorities carried out a targeted operation in Burgas to combat election-related crimes, resulting in six people being detained. Three of the cases led to pre-trial proceedings, while the other three were documented in official files.
A protest demanding transparency and answers about the so-called "Petrohan-Okolchitsa" case took place in central Sofia yesterday, where citizens gathered in front of the Palace of Justice.
Musicians from the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) have suspended all concert activities starting Friday, protesting what they describe as insufficient salaries.
Health authorities in Bulgaria report a total of 101 confirmed measles cases across the country, according to data from the Ministry of Health
Good Friday, known in Bulgaria as Razpeti petak, is one of the most solemn and deeply observed days in the Orthodox Christian calendar
The Bulgarian scientific research vessel “Sts. Cyril and Methodius” (NIC 421) has returned to Varna, docking at the Marine Station and marking the official end of the country’s 34th Antarctic expedition
Holiday weather conditions are expected to remain mixed across Bulgaria, with alternating periods of sunshine and rain showers, according to the forecast
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church has decided that no official delegation will travel to Jerusalem this year to receive the Holy Fire, citing the ongoing tensions in the Middle East
Plovdiv will host the International Street Arts Festival 6Fest from April 20 to 26, 2026, turning the city into an open-air stage featuring performers from 11 countries across three continents
Aniventure Comic Con Returns to Bulgaria with Star Guest Christopher Judge!
Global Fuel Shock: Oil Jumps Over 40% Since Iran War Began
