Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

New arrests over radical Islam in Bulgaria

Photo: BGNES

In the Bulgarian cities of Pazardzhik, Plovdiv and Asenovgrad the Prosecution has pressed charges on 8 people over the case against followers of the “Islamic State." This way charges have been pressed against a total of 15 people. A similar operation was carried out by the Prosecution, the Agency for National Security Agency and the Interior Ministry in November last year in five Bulgarian cities. Then 7 people were arrested for preaching radical Islam mainly in the Roma neighborhoods. Now charges involve participation in a group that advocates extremist religious ideology, the creation of caliphate and resorts to war propaganda. Witnesses claim that the arrested used Facebook to spread calls for jihad and violence, and one of their comments read: 'We declare jihad and will cut the heads of captured infidels." According to the prosecution, the group sought popularity not only in Bulgaria but wanted to establish contacts with "Islamic State" and to receive funding from the organization. The circumstances surrounding the case are somewhat confusing and contradictory. The leadership of the Islamic religion in Bulgaria claims that there is no radical Islam in this country. Some experts on Islamic affairs and security experts are of the opinion that it was not a matter of radical but of political Islam and operations like those carried out in Bulgaria have become commonplace across the world. Experts also claim this country needed urgent law changes in order to avoid future risks. Even the prosecution avoided blaming the arrested of "radical Islam" and holds them responsible for preaching "anti-democratic ideology." Keeping in mind the circumstances, the actions of law enforcement authorities seem insecure. Insecure before threats for decapitating infidels... And this is mostly because of the absence of a law to criminalize activities associated with radical Islam, or political Islam, because the danger of these actions is too obvious.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Polling station in Las Vegas

Fewer and fewer Bulgarians vote in Las Vegas

Why I vote - a question that guides our actions on election day. "People who can't answer don't generally vote," says Ventsy Georgiev. He is a member of the Las Vegas polling station, USA. He says that nearly 7,800 Bulgarians live in this American city ,..

published on 10/28/24 9:13 AM
Photo: FB/Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles

BgFACE distinguishes Bulgarians on the U.S. West Coast for third year in a row

A world-famous Bulgarian actor and a surgeon won recognition at the third edition of the Bulgarian Awards for Arts, Science, Education and Culture in Los Angeles, the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles announced via its Facebook account...

published on 10/27/24 5:39 PM
Erevan, Armenia

Tsvetana Paskaleva, Yerevan: Let there be peace, politicians should keep young people in Bulgaria

We Bulgarians know that Bulgaria and Armenia have close relations of friendship and cooperation, built on the basis of centuries of historical and cultural ties between the two nations. There are many respected personalities from the Armenian diaspora..

published on 10/27/24 5:25 PM