Supreme Muslim Council held its another meeting for 2020

The Supreme Muslim Council (SMC) – the central collective body of the Muslim Denomination, held its second consecutive meeting for the current year, 2020. Besides the SMC members, the working meeting was also attended by the representatives of the Board of the National Council of the Religious Activities in Bulgaria (NCRCB), headed by the Chairperson Birali Birali, at the invitation of the Chairman Vedat Ahmed.

The meeting was officially opened with a welcoming address to all participants by the host Vedat Ahmed and with a recitation of an excerpt from the Holy Qur’an by Beyhan Mehmed - Regional Mufti of Kardzhali.

In is address Vedat Ahmed thanked the NCRCB for responding to his invitation and focused on the importance of the mutual knowledge between the religious communities.

“While we do not know each other we will not be able to walk together in seeking solutions for our common problems.” – the SMC Chairman said. He briefly presented to the NCRCB members what the Supreme Muslim Council is as a collective body of the Muslim Denomination and informed them about the fields of its activities and the main tasks of the SMC.

The NCRCB Chairperson and Deputy Grand Mufti of Bulgaria Birali Myumyun Birali in his turn informed the participants about the 12-year history of the NCRCB and expressed the good will on behalf of the Council for cooperation with all official religious denomination in Bulgaria.

“Regardless of our different religious beliefs we are united by one basis – the faith in the One Creator. Far from all kind of unities and mixture of religions we are trying to respect the specifics of the different religions and in our relations we adhere to ethics – to not hurt the religious feelings of each of the members of the Council and the rest, non-presented in the NCRCB communities.” – commented during the held meeting the NCRCB Chairperson Birali Birali.

The representatives of the different officially represented religious communities in the NCRCB who attended the meeting had the opportunity to present their religious denomination and their activities to the SMC members.

“Meetings like this and the existence of the NCRCB as a whole is a success for everyone, who participate and contribute to this.” – the Grand Mufti of the Muslims in the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi said in his address to the participants. He focused on the fact that such inter-faith meetings and forums are an opportunity for mutual understanding and overcoming the prejudices between the different religious communities.

“The future of the mankind is in this – to be together and to strive for solving our common problems. As religious communities we are facing common challenges which will become even greater in the time.” – Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi further said and urged for the possibility to organize inter-faith meetings more often and also that they should take place not only in the capital but also in the provincial cities and settlements.

Author: L. Chausheva