The Grand Mufti in the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi had an official visit to the Muslim Representation – town of Zlatograd on March 6 (Friday), 2020.

An occasion for the visit of the spiritual leader of the Muslims in Bulgaria was the public presentation of the work of Regional Mufti’s Office – Smolyan.

During his visit the Grand Mufti, accompanied by the Regional Mufti of Smolyan Nedzhmi Dabov and the Deputy Mufti in Zlatograd Bayram Ushev, held a number of official meetings with the mayors of the municipalities of Zlatograd and Nedelino, respectively Miroslav Yanchev and Boyan Kehayov. During the meetings were discussed issues related to the Muslim community in the two municipalities. Among the discussed topics were the undertaken administrative steps for the development of the waqf property in the central urban areas of the municipal centers. There was highlighted the excellent communication between the institutions and the declared consensus for the further development of the relations in the sake of the society’s welfare.

The meetings ended with presenting gifts, where the Grand Mufti gave as a gift to the mayors the translated edition of the Holy Qur’an and books of Grand Mufti’s Office. The Mayor of the Municipality of Nedelino in his turn presented traditional gifts, typical for the region of Nedelino and related to the local customs, folklore and traditions. And the Mayor of the Municipality of Zlatograd pleasantly surprised the Grand Mufti by giving him a painting of the only of the four mosques in the town, that survived after the communist regime during the last century. The painting was specially painted for the occasion by a local painter as a sign of respect to the high-ranking guest.

The Grand Mufti Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi performed the Friday prayer and delivered a sermon in the central mosque of Zlatograd. After the prayer local public figures and residents of the town had the opportunity to personally meet with Hadzhi.

The presentation of the work of Regional Mufti’s Office – Smolyan took place in the community center of the town by the Regional Mufti Nedzhmi Dabov and raised a great interest among the local residents. In a summarized form the activities of the regional mufti’s office in five fields for the last 12 years were presented. Among the official guests of the event were the Grand Mufti, the Mayor of the Municipality of Zlatograd, the Head of the Department of Education at Grand Mufti’s Office Amir Feleti, the deputy regional muftis in Devin and Ardino, the Director of RS – Momchilgrad, the Director of the training course for hafizes in the town of Madan, representatives of the Regional Muslim Council and of the administrative team of Regional Mufti’s Office – Smolyan. There were also representatives of the business, chairmen of Muslim boards of trustees and imams from the region.

The host of the event – the Deputy Regional Mufti Bayram Ushev, thanked the guests and those who had responded to the invitation and expressed the hope that with joint efforts, institutional and social support, the projects in the two municipalities for the benefit of the society will be implemented.