Supreme Muslim Council held its first meeting for this year

The Supreme Muslim Council (SMC) which is the central collective body of the Muslim Denomination held its first meeting on 2nd of February, 2017 in the town of Bankya, which was attended by muftis and deputy regional muftis who are not members of the Council. Major part of the agenda of meeting was the delivery of the reports on the activity of the Supreme Muslim Council - reports of the Chairman, of the members and of the chairmen of the committees of the Councils.

In his report the Chairman Vedat S. Ahmed thanked the members for their regular and active participation in the held nine meetings during 2016 which is a great success in comparison with the previous years. He noted that the Council made 331 decisions 90% of which are implemented or are under implementation. He paid a special attention to the activities of the committees, the improvement of which was one of the main objectives set for the SMC.

During year 2016 the fifteen standing and temporary committees held 35 meetings where were discussed 572 topics and 330 decisions are made from which 224 are implemented and the remaining part except about a dozen, are under implementation. The Chairman of the Council noted the high achievements of the Committee on Waqf in the management of the waqf property bequeathed to us from our ancestors. He also highlighted the sufficient level with regard to the institutional development of the Muslim Denomination including also the Supreme Muslim Council which sets the pace for the development of the activities. As self-criticism and direction for development he pointed the insufficient number of the adherents of cause of the Muslim Denomination. That is why he proposed to be focused on the promotion of the activities, strengthening the control mechanisms and holding different joint meetings with other structures of the Denomination and representatives of the Muslim community.

During the meeting the Grand Mufti Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi delivered a report on his visits abroad. Besides this were presented the current results of the campaigns held to support the residents of the village of Hitrino and the Training course for imams in the village of Ustina that took place during December and January.

Among the discussed topics was also the petition against the restriction of the rights of the Muslims in Bulgaria which had to be completed till the end of January but due to the severe winter conditions its period was extended by the SMC till the end of February.