For a first time in its modern history the historical temple “Dzhumaya” mosque in Plovdiv will have also a library. It is named after the famous Ottoman Sufi and thinker “Filibeli Ahmed Hilmi” and was opened with an official ceremony from 17:30 o’clock on February 27 (Thursday) this year.

The festive opening was attended by hundreds of guests form the country and from the Republic of Turkey. Among them was also a delegation from Grand Mufti’s Office led by the Grand Mufti of the Muslims in Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi, accompanied by the Chairman of the Supreme Muslim Council (SMC) Vedat Ahmed, the Deputy Grand Mufti Birali Myumyun Birali, the Secretary General of the Muslim Denomination Dzhelal Faik and the Head of Publishing Department Dzhemal Hatip.

The event was also attended by representatives of the Municipality of Plovdiv, by the Turkish Ambassador in Sofia Her Excellency Aylin Sekizkök, the Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Plovdiv, the Governor of the city of Edirne in the Republic of Turkey, as well as representatives of the Turkish-Bulgarian associations and ethno-cultural organizations.

On the occasion of the wonderful newly implemented initiative we took a short interview with the Regional Mufti of Plovdiv Taner Veli:

 -      Mr. Veli, congratulations on the wonderful initiative of Regional Mufti’s Office – Plovdiv! Would you tell us how the idea for the opening of the library “Filibeli Ahmed Hilmi” at “Dzhumaya” mosque in Plovdiv was born?

-   The idea came from Regional Mufti’s Office – Plovdiv and is from two years ago. Since then Grand Mufti’s Office has encouraged us to take this step because Plovdiv is a tourist center and is actively visited by foreign tourists, and in 2019 was announced as European Capital of Culture. We also received the active support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Plovdiv. We had the free for this purpose premises, so for a couple of days now the library officially is a fact.

 -     And where exactly is located the newly opened library “Filibeli Ahmed Hilmi”?

 -     The library is located in a specially for this purpose place at the central entrance of “Dzhumaya” mosque in Plovdiv.

 -      And what literature is currently available?

 -      At the moment of its opening the library offers a wide variety of literature, including Bulgarian and Turkish literature, poetry, children’s publications, encyclopedias, dictionaries, historical literature, editions of Grand Mufti’s Office. A great part of the books was donated by Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Plovdiv, by other organizations, religious communities and citizens of Plovdiv.

 -      What are the conditions for the readers who would like to benefit from the book fund of the newly opened library?

-      The library is open to everyone – both Muslims and non-Muslims are welcome in it. By registration in the readers’ book of the library, people will have the opportunity to borrow a book that they like, for home, after which to return it. There is a special reading corner in the library so that those who want can read few pages also at place, for example 5 – 10 minutes before a prayer. The new library will be open between 10:00 and 16:00 o’clock.

On behalf of Grand Mufti’s Office, we wish success to the wonderful initiative and let it has its contribution to increasing the number of reading people!

Author: L. Chausheva