Grand Mufti’s Office supports the peaceful protest of the Muslims in Karlovo

Grand Mufti’s Office supports the announced from the Muslims in Karlovo peaceful national protest “Let’s stop the destruction of temples in European Bulgaria”, which will take place on 30th of June, 2015 in Karlovo.
The attempts of the local authorities represented by their managing bodies to fabricate illegitimate artifacts through which to argue their antidemocratic and islamophobic impulse to turn the mosque into a museum is unacceptable act of discrimination with which one more time the Muslim community in the country is rudely provoked. The multiplication of similar cases in different settlements with a single subject to follow - Muslim temples, deeply offends the Muslims in the country.
The speculative and populist rhetoric of the Mayor Mr. Emil Kabaivanov that the Kurshum Mosque in Karlovo is an object the designation of which is determined by the local authority, are far unreasonable having in mind that the Muslim denomination has a deed for the mosque issued by the Bulgarian state.
The permanent violations towards temples and the attempts to change their designation is a clear sign for antidemocratic and irrational management approach corresponding to the traditions of the feudal system.
What is happening in “Kurshum mosque” in Karlovo, “Karadzha Pasha” in Gotse Delchev, “Bayrakla Mosque” in Samokov, “Fatih Mehmed” mosque in Kyustendil, “Makbul Ibrahim Pasha” in Razgrad, the mosque in Ihtiman, “Hamza Bey” in Stara Zagora creates discontent among the Muslim community, which ignites with every new case of antidemocratic, Islamophobic and antagonistic behavior against the community and the sacred for it things.
From the height of its responsibility Grand Mufti’s Office calls upon the authorities to undertake adequate measures through which to solve the problems of the Muslim community in the country, and not to deepen them.
We call upon all who attach importance to human rights and democratic and European values regardless their political views, to support this peaceful initiative in defense of the fundamental human rights.