According to Bulgarian Democratic media, inter alia a paper Dnes, a trial (see photo) over 13 anti-Democrats, namely Muslim imams, accused of malicious anti-Democracy in the form of "preaching radical Islam" and calling for Sharia started in southern Bulgarian city of Pazardzhik on September 18, 2012. The paper writes:
"The hearing will continue on September 27 and 28, 2012. Most of the accused are imams of Pazardzhik, Blagoevgrad and Smolyan districts. The main defendant is the head of Bulgarian branch of the organization Al-Waqf Al-Islami Said Mutlu.
Hundreds of people from Pazardzhik, Blagoevgrad and Smolyan came to the district court. They explained their presence as moral support for 13 people accused of preaching Salafism.
Among those present were women in burqas (capes covering the face - KC) and men with the main feature of their piety - a beard. They all claimed that the defendants were innocent, and never preached any anti-Democratic ideology.
The main defendants are Mufti Abdullah Saleh from the district of Pazardzhik, and Imam Said Mutlu of Sarnitsa who is considered to be one of the leaders of the Bulgarian branch of the radical underground organization Al-Waqf Al Islami which is funded by Saudi Arabia.
Among the 13 accused is a woman named Gorelka, who was a teacher in Blagoevgrad. They are all accused of promoting anti-Democratic ideology.
In addition, they are charged with leadership and membership in a radical organization which calls for a new interpretation of Islam. They preached that every child is born as a Muslim, and the only fair system is Sharia.
The organization was disbanded in 2010, premises were searched, computer equipment was seized. Investigation files consist of 31 volumes.
The Office of the Chief Mufti issued a statement saying that the charges against 13 Bulgarian followers of Islam are exaggerated and untrue.
"We, the representatives of Muslim Bulgarian citizens, declare our support for our fellow citizens, colleagues, brothers and sisters, who have been wrongfully accused of "threatening national security, public order and undermining the foundations of the constitutional system in Bulgaria by inciting national and religious hatred".
This is the official statement of the Chief Mufti of Bulgaria in connection with charges against 13 Bulgarian followers of Islam from Pazardzhik, "the Bulgarian news agency BGNES reports.
On September 27, a newspaper Novini Pazardzhik I Regiona said:
"The witnesses keep on waiving their testimonies at the trial of 13 Muslims.
The trial of 13 Muslims accused of preaching radical Islam continued in Pazardzhik District Court. And on this day, many witnesses refuted their testimony given earlier at the investigation stage and explained it by saying that they didn't understand written Bulgarian and they had been asked to sign papers not knowing what had been written there. The investigator never read the text to them.
The witnesses denied that they had ever told to the investigator that they had heard the preachers telling the following: that it is a sin for women to work, that diseases can be cured by reading the Koran, that Islam is the only true religion which will conquered the world and that the Sharia Law will be established over the world.
Four women have been questioned as well. Among them was a headmistress from Sarnitsa, Ms. Fatma Kurtova, who teaches the Bulgarian language and literature. She confirmed that she participated in meetings and lectures led by Said Mutlu which were related to religion, and explained that she was wearing headscarf only when attending the local mosque but never when being at school.
She had been told that it was unacceptable for a teacher to wear a headscarf. Witnesses who appeared before the court on Thursday confirmed that they attended the lectures by Mutlu in the mosque and in his apartment.
On September 27, the Pazardzhik regional court also questioned a secret witness, identification number 003, who is an officer of the National Security Agency DANS".
News agency BNews informed that about 200 Muslims gathered in front of the district court (see photo) on September 26.
The Muslims held posters "See the difference between truth and slander", "Religion can not be forced upon."
Four witnesses stay under witness protection program. Their names have not been disclosed. Their questioning will be conducted by telephone with specific modulators to change the voice.
"The court will question 30 witnesses and 10 experts.
Imam of Sarnitsa, Said Mutlu, Fatwa Committee Chairman at the General Muftiate of Pazardzhik district , Mufti Abdullah Saleh and Imam of Jamaat Abu Bakr in the city quarter of Pazardzhik, Ahmed Musa Ahmed, could be sentenced to 30 years in prison (for anti-Democracy - KC).
10 other Hajjis and one woman are accused of radical Islam, as well. They can be sent to prison for 10 years", BNews reports.
No Western media reported anything about the trial over anti-Democracy in Bulgaria. The Iranian government TV channel Press TV was the only foreign media to cover the story. But it shifted the focus (trial for anti-Democracy) from the real issues. It made an interview with the Chief Mufti of Bulgaria who spoke about a need to organize Islamic education inside the country and said that the 13 Muslims are Bulgarian patriots.
In the past, anti-Communists were pressured in Bulgaria, now came the turn of anti-Democrats. Is there really a difference between Communists and Western-style Democrats?
The report by Press TV can be viewed at this link .
There is only one comment in the guestbook of Press TV. It reads:
"Sara
Sep 28, 2012 8:58 PM
Disgusting. They pursue anyone who speaks the truth. They persecuted Jesus and Christians, and now they are pursuing Muslims. They want all of us bowed to their New World Order, that is worshipping of the devil".
Department of Monitoring
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