site.btaVMRO Will Oppose Any Attempts to Build New Mosque in Central Sofia

Sofia, August 17 (BTA) - "VMRO will oppose any attempts to build a new mosque in central Sofia," the party said in a declaration circulated to the media on Thursday.

They demand checks and categorically oppose the idea.

"We respect every religion but regard the idea of a new mosque in central Sofia as disrespectful of the Muslims themselves," the declaration reads.

VMRO are adamant that they will not allow anybody to alter the skyline of Sofia "as a democratic, free and European capital which stands up for its history and values".

The move was apparently prompted by a NOVA Television report on Wednesday, which quotes Kemil Ramadan as saying that he had a "unique sponsor" ready to invest 50-60 million in a nice modern mosque. "I have friends. One of the sheikhs of Abu Dhabi Investment will attend the ground-breaking," Ramadan specified. In his opinion, the former Royal Mews are the ideal spot for a mosque.

Ramadan, 42, ran for president on the ticket of the Balkan Democratic League party in the November 6, 2016 elections. He studied in Saudi Arabia and is a member of the outlawed IGASA Foundation. He professes radical Islam. In June 2017, he was reportedly arrested by the State Agency for National Security near Sofia's mosque for texting threats to Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Kornelia Ninova which, after the Iftar dinner, were addressed to President Rumen Radev as well.

"The Central Sofia Mosque is extremely insufficient for everybody who wish to perform their prayers," Sofia Regional Mufti Mustafa Izbishtali commented. "These things should best be channelled through the Muslim denomination in dialogue with Sofia Municipality. Anything else gives rise to suspicions of a conspiracy," Izbishtali added on NOVA.

For years, the Grand Mufti's Office has been trying in vain to arrange the construction of a second mosque in the Malinova Dolina Quarter, south of the city centre.