Grand Mufti met with Minister of Education Krasimir Valchev

The Grand Mufti of the Muslims in the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi met with the minister of Education Krasimir Valchev on October 15 (Monday), 2018.

The meeting took place at the Ministry of Education in the capital and was requested on behalf of the Muslim Denomination. A reason for it were the adopted at first reading amendments to the Law on Religious Denominations the last week and the necessity of solving the problem with the accreditation of the High Islamic Institute (HII).

During his meeting with Minster Valchev the Grand Mufti Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi expressed his concerns about the unclear situation with the accreditation of the HII, and expressed also his hopes that with joint efforts this difficult situation will be resolved. The Grand Mufti proposed an option in which the HII to be approved as a specialized higher school which will have the right to issue Bachelor’s Degree certificates, approved by the Ministry of Education and giving the right of working as a teacher in religious disciplines. In his turn Minister Valchev expressed his support to the cause of the HII. He said that he will insist on clarifying the situation with the Institute and the question with its accreditation during the meeting of the committee which will be set between the first and the second reading of the Law on the Religious Denominations.

Valchev supported the opinion of the Grand Mufti that the Muslim Denomination needs to teach its staffs which will be a guarantee for a multi-cultural co-existence, based on tolerance and understanding among the different religious communities in the country.

In conclusion the Grand Mufti of the Muslims in the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi thanked for the kind welcome and gave the Minister of Education Krasimir Valchev a translation of the Holy Qur’an.