Guesthouse in the town of Smolyan

At the regular SMC meeting in August were discussed the current problems of the Denomination and one of the topics on which was focused was the proposal of the Regional Mufti of Smolyan for establishing a Guesthouse in the town of Smolyan. Two years ago RMO Smolyan has restarted one project which was initiated in 1999 with purchasing a four-storey house in Smolyan from Grand Mufti’s Office. In 2015 a new design of the building was made as a “guesthouse” for public purposes. During the meeting it was decided the “guesthouse” to operate from the beginning of the new school year. The three floors of the building will be used as dormitories for school pupils and students and the remaining floor will be a library.

“The dormitory will be only for school pupils and students, and the library will be accessible for all women who want to increase their knowledge in the Islamic religion. Periodically in the library will be delivered lectures and discussion will be held” explained the Regional Mufti Nedzhmi Dabov.

 According to the Regional Mufti the institution has to pay more attention to the religious life of the women in the Muslim community in Bulgaria. During the summer Qur’an courses this year in RMO Smolyan one-third of the teachers were women, during the autumn-winter period are held weekly lectures for women from several settlements in the region. “But there is still a lot to be done” thinks the Regional Mufti. On the question ‘What gap is expected to be filled with this project in Smolyan?” Dabov replied:

“I do believe that through it we will increase the self-esteem in women from the community, and we also will improve their activity in educational and social aspect.”