Court Hearings against Alleged Radical Islam Preachers

Alert DateSeptember 28, 2012 Country: Bulgaria Address: pazardzhik General Type: Hate crime Racism and discrimination phenomena: Extremism - organised Racist Violence
Groups affected / Interested in: Muslims
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Perpetrator Gender N/A
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number N/A
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

In 2012, the Pazardzhik District Court held hearings against 13 defendants for antidemocratic ideology of religious hatred and membership into an unregistered organization. Most of the defendants are imams preaching in towns of southwestern Bulgaria. [1 & 2] 

 In 2010, the Ministry of Interior and National Security Agency searched the homes and offices of the suspected members of the Islamist organization Al Waqf Al Islami and seized campaign materials, books, and computers. The alleged members of the organization were pressed charges of subversion and sabotage, as well as preaching of anti-democratic ideology and violent change of social and state system under Art. 107 and 108 of the Bulgarian Penal Code; under Art. 164 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code for preaching hatred on religious grounds through speech, expressing hostility and rejection of anything not in line with the ideology of Salafism, dissemination of religious ideas during Friday prayers in mosques, lectures, sermons, meetings cafes. [3]

Protected witnesses testified that the deffendants preached hatered against representatives of different religious groups. He organised a  squad, which attacked christian youngsters in Pazardzhik. Other witness said that Salafi youngsters were taught fight techniques at the religious school of Rudozem and the other muslim citizens feared them. [4]

 The searches were accompanied with protests among the Muslim communities. Chief Mufti's Office declared the charges groundless and exaggerated [5].

Court hearings are held with higher public interest. The evidence of witnesses, defendants and an undercover agent were widely discussed in media. By the end of 2012 the case is still pending.

Sources:

  1. The Washington Times, Imams’ trial tests Bulgaria’s religious tolerance, 26.10.2012, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/26/imams-trial-tests-bulgarias-religious-tolerance/?page=all, Accessed on 23.2.2013.
  2. Vesti.bg, 28.09.2012, Какво каза защитеният свидетел в Пазарджик? (What did the protected witness say in Pazardzhik?) http://www.vesti.bg/index.phtml?tid=40&oid=5163671, Accessed on 08.01.2013
  3. Vesti.bg, 18.06.2012, 13 души с обвинение за незаконна ислямска организация (13 persons pressed charges in participation in illegal Islamic organisation)  http://www.vesti.bg/index.phtml?tid=40&oid=4899911, Accessed on 08.01.2013
  4. Sega daily, 28.11.2012, Подсъдим за радикален ислям имал наказателен отряд срещу християни (Radical Islam Defendad Maintained Own Squad), http://www.segabg.com/article.php?id=626301, Accessed on 21.01.2013
  5. Vesti.bg, 26.09.2012, Мюфтийството: Няма радикален ислям у нас (Mufti's Office: There is no radical Islam) http://www.vesti.bg/index.phtml?tid=40&oid=5157671, Accessed on 08.01.2013