The new administrative building of Regional Mufti’s Office - Smolyan was officially opened

The new administrative building of Regional Mufti’s Office – Smolyan was officially opened on 27^th of June, 2016. Official guests of the event were the Grand Mufti of the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi, His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey Süleyman Gökçe, the Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in the city of Plovdiv Birey Yilmazsoy, the regional muftis of Sofia Mustafa Izbishtali, of Plovdiv Taner Veli, of Pazardzhik Abdullah Salih, of Kardzhali Beyhan Mehmed, and of Haskovo Basri Eminefendi, the Regional Muslim Council of Smolyan, the Mayor of Smolyan Municipality Nikolay Melemov, the Deputy Regional Governor of Smolyan Andriyan Petrov, imams and representatives of the Muslim Boards of Trustees from the region, residents of Smolyan.

Was ribbon was cut by the Grand Mufti Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi, the Ambassador of Turkey Süleyman Gökçe, the Regional Mufti Nedzhmi Dabov, the Mayor of Smolyan Nikolay Melemov and the Deputy Regional Governor Andriayn Petrov.

The ceremony continued with speeches of the official guests. The Regional Mufti of Smolyan recalled that three years ago was made the first sod for this modern building. Exactly on the 100 anniversary since the establishment of Regional Mufti’s Office – Smolyan were put the foundations of the new building of the mufti’s office. He thanked all donors for the implementation of the project, the Grand Mufti for the trust which he put on him three years ago, the Mayor of Smolyan for the support in the implementation of the project, the project designer, the contractor and the supervisor. “In conclusion I would like to wish that this building to continue fully to implement its functions for which it has been built, and namely to perform the mission of the Denomination in preservation and development of the religious identity of the Muslim community and to be in service and support the society. This building in not only for the Muslims but for the entire society, because the mufti’s office is called upon to generate safety and welfare for the society. We share this idea and we will develop it in the future with even more intensive pace”, further said the Regional Mufti.

“In this building is invested a lot of kindness, love, sincerity and patience which will help from now on we to develop even better. The good co-existence between the people in the Rhodopes is nothing new. This is one indicator that people do not distinguish between religion and ethnicity, between this who what status has in the society”, said the Grand Mufti and added: “People need respect and love more than ever, that is why the initiative to make such a building which to contribute for the good image of Smolyan, deserves praise and gratitude for everyone who took part in its construction”. The Grand Mufti said that everyone is welcome in the Regional Mufti’s Office regardless of whoever he is, because this is the building of all people, and not of a certain part of the society. The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey Süleyman Gökçe said that the new building will be a cultural and a social center which besides for the Muslims, will be also in service of all the people from the region. “On behalf of Turkey I say the following: for us Bulgaria is very important country. Without making division the entire Bulgarian people are closest friends and brothers of the Turkish people and from now on it will be so. This building is not a religious one, but as it is of the Regional Mufti’s Office, it will have a religious reference. This is extremely important because we have one common heritage. We all make every efforts to preserve the common cultural heritage with the Bulgarian people and to transmit this to the new generation of Turkey”, further said the Ambassador.

This historical event in the 103 years history of Regional Mufti’s Office – Smolyan was attended by 450 people who were given a solemn iftar dinner.