Grand Mufti's Office Spokesman: It is not possible to stop external funding of the religious denominations if the country does not undertake their care

At the XIII International Conference on "Terrorism and electronic media"which took place within the period from 25^th till 29^th of September, 2017 in Sofia the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov said that it is necessary to make changes in Bulgarian legislation related to education and religious denominations. The aim of the planned changes according to the politician from alliance "United patriots" is to prevent the radicalization of the Muslim community in Bulgaria.

Next week he will submit to the Council of Ministers and to the Parliament specific proposals for stricter control over the funding of the religious denominations,  the teachers in the Islamic schools and the imams in our country.

The Deputy Prime Minister Karakachanov told the journalists that the High Islamic Institute has  to be licensed and its staff has to be trained according to an approved by the Ministry of Education and Science  learning system. According to him the practicing imams in our country have to take an exam to check if they preach traditional or extreme Islam.

The Secretary General and Spokesman of Grand Mufti's Office of the Muslims in the Republic of Bulgaria Dzhelyal Faik commented on the statements of Karakachanov with the words:

"Grand Mufti's Office welcomes the commitment of the Minister of Defence to accreditation of the High Islamic Institute. This is expected in a period of 27 years  - since the existence of the educational institution. However, for a great regret the state in no way assists for the accreditation of the HII in order the graduates of the Institute to have the opportunity to continue their education in other scientific degrees after graduating from it so far."

According to the Spokesman of Grand Mufti's Office until the state does not enter into commitment to care about all religious denominations in the country their external funding can not be stopped. Otherwise they are doomed" commented Faik.

"With the National Council of the Religious Communities in Bulgaria we have a common position that if the country decide to restrict or to stop entirely the external funding of the religious denominations in the country, then it has to enter into a commitment to care about each of them." - further said the Spokesman of Grand Mufti's Office.

Dzhelyal Faik also expressed his concerns that representatives of "patriotic" parties have foreseen amendments in the legislation that intentionally affect entirely the Muslim Denomination and people professing Islam in Bulgaria. According to the Secretary of the Denomination this happens without the initiators to consult Grand Mufti's Office as an approved, entirely legal religious institution in Bulgaria.

To the question how he would comment on the proposal of Minister Karakachanov the imams in Bulgaria to pass test in moderate Islam, Dzhelyal Faik replied:

"Such a commission that has to assess what Islam imams preach has to consist of competent people - approved Islamic theologians in Bulgaria, for example. It is important to clarify if this commissions will be under the direction of a xenophobic political party or it will be headed by the state with its state's authorities which together with Grand Mufti's Office will assess what Islam are preaching its imams."

The Secretary of the Muslim Denomination in conclusion said that Grand Mufti's Office will wait to see what proposals for amendments in the legislation will be submitted to the Parliament and the Council of Ministers after which the institution will make an official statement on the issue.

Interviewer: L. Chausheva