site.btaSupreme Muslim Council Considers Proposed Amendments to Religious Denominations Act

Sofia, May 20 (BTA) - On May 17 the Supreme Muslim Council considered two bills submitted to the Parliament to amend the Religions Denominations Act.

Council Chairman Vedat Ahmed said that the Council rejects the unconstitutional and totalitarian proposals of the United Patriots. He added that the Council has concerns too with regards to a bill sponsored by the Bulgarian Socialist Party, GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms.

Despite displaying some positive aspects and an apparent concern for religious denominations on the part of the stats, the bill also tries to control directly the activity of the denominations by extending the powers of the Religious Denominations Directorate with the Council of Ministers. Provisions which allow for ambiguous interpretation and arbitrary enforcement also give a cause for concern.

The Supreme Muslim Council urges that the principle of autonomy of denominations ia observed and that all denominations are treated equally and that ambiguous provisions are abolished.

The Council will draw up an opinion on behalf of the Muslim denomination and the Chief Mufti will submit it to Parliament.