Ramadan meeting of the Supreme Muslim Council 

It has already become a tradition the Supreme Muslim Council (SMC) to organize a meeting during the graceful days of the sacred Ramadan, in which the members of the Council of the Religious Leaders and the Council of Muftis are specially invited.

On the second day of the blessed month, i.e. May 7, 2019, the Chairman of the Supreme Muslim Council Vedat S. Ahmed convened a meeting in which participated the present Grand Mufti Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi, the former grand muftis Fikri Salih and Seli Mehmed, the former SMC Chairmen Hyusein Karamolla and Ridvan Kadyov, SMC members and the Council of Muftis.

At the opening of the meeting the host Vedat Ahmed highlighted the importance of the institutionalism in the Muslim Denomination and the unity of the Muslim community, and then thanked the participants for efforts they make in this regard. He also emphasized that there are circles that are trying by all means to stop the development of the Muslim in a world scale, as well as in Bulgaria, but the unity give strength to the community to overcome the obstacles and to develop in a positive direction.

In his welcoming speech Dr. Hadzhi pointed out the need of continual update and renewal of the human resources in the Denomination in order adequately to respond to the demands of time. And Fikri Salih recalled that as a first elected Grand Mufti during the transition years he had experienced a lot of difficulties in his work due to the lack of preparation of himself and of the structures to meet the serious challenges but a serious struggle and a step forward in the development of the Muslim community was made. Selim Mehmed in turn drew the attention to the necessity to devote to the cause, to guide the community and to teach new religious officials. The former SMC chairmen Karamolla and Kadyov also emphasized on the past and present difficulties and challenges to the Denomination and encouraged the participants with their thought and wishes.

During the key part of the meeting was discussed the situation in which the Muslim Denomination is after the amendments to the Law on the Religious Denominations. It was pointed out that the state has helped the Muslim community allocating funds from the state budget, opening a door for accrediting of the High Islamic Institute, giving a signal for rescheduling of the debt of the Muslim Denomination, etc. Concrete actions have been undertaken in this regard but there still are unclarified issues that will have to be resolved with a dialogue with the state institutions. But along with everything this, the most important for the Muslim Denomination remains the spiritual and material commitment of the members of the Muslim community and the development of the staff capacity.

During the discussion of the topics on the agenda there also were addressed cases related to the management of the waqf property and changes in the composition of the Muslim boards of trustees. Furthermore the training course for hafizes (Qur’an memorizers) in the town of Madan, which is the only one of its kind in our country, was renamed as Training course for hafizes “Hafiz Murad Hadzhi”.  So it will now be named after Hafiz Hadzhi Murad, who 20 years ago laid the foundations of this important educational institution. Hafiz Murad passed away on November 9, 2018.

At the end of the meeting the SMC adopted a declaration which it is going to publish separately, in connection with the actions of the investigating authorities that cause fear and disturbance in the ranks of the Muslim Denomination by carrying our investigating actions based on complaints and signals which can be qualified as claptrap.