Supreme Muslim Council awards a human rights defender

The Supreme Muslim Council (SMC) will hold the “Hodzhazade Mehmed Muhyiddin Efendi” annual awarding ceremony on December 8 (Sunday) this year, from 17:30 o’clockin Concert Hall of the Central Military Club in Sofia. The award is established by the central collective body of the Muslim Denomination. It is named after the first grand mufti, the highly-esteemed Hodzhazade, who was elected at his position exactly on December 8 in the far 1910.

This year the honorary first award will be presented to the Chairman of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee Assoc. Prof. Krasimir Kanev. He has been nominated for his long-lasting activities in the field of human rights and their consistent upholding and defense and especially for defending the religious rights of the Bulgarian Muslims.

The awards will be also presented to four more people. The first of them is the 80-years old Salih Osman from Shumen who has been a teacher in Turkish language for many years, and is one of the founders of the Religious School in Shumen after the democratic changes in the country. Among the nominees is also Yakub Hyummet from the village of Potochnitsa, Kardzhali region, who receives the award for exemplary father. His family raised three daughters, giving them secular and religious education as a result of which today they are engaged in religious and educational activities. The longtime journalist Sevda Dyukyandzi is awarded for contribution in giving voice to the problems of the Muslim community and the media coverage of the Muslim cultural heritage in the country and abroad. The award is also presented to the active young and devoted Muslim cleric Hyusein Kamberov from Zlatograd.

By recognizing individuals who have contributed to the Muslim community and to the society in general, the Supreme Muslim Council aims to promote the values, the moral and the good deeds, presenting real life examples of the Bulgarian citizens, focusing on the Muslim Denomination.

The already traditional annual ceremony will enjoy the participants with a religious and cultural program, including with traditional Turkish and Sufi music.

It is expected that the event will be attended by muftis, representatives of different religious denominations, diplomats, politicians, public figures, representatives of the non-governmental sector, and many other Muslims and Christians, who attach importance to the spiritual values and the good deeds.