site.bta"Radical Islam" Criminalized on First Reading

"Radical Islam" Criminalized on First Reading

Sofia, June 23 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Parliament Thursday passed on first reading amendments to the Penal Code criminalizing "radical Islam". The vote was 106 in favour, three against and ten abstentions. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) stood out of the vote. The bill was moved by MPs of the Patriotic Front.

Propagating radical Islam was added to the list of offences against the Republic. On conviction, it will carry deprivation of liberty for a term of up to three years or a maximum fine of 5,000 leva.

The new provision defines propagating a radical Islam ideology as "words, actions or distributing texts or symbols promoting some of the following ideas: establishing an Islamic State (Caliphate); Sharia laws superseding secular laws; coercively enforcing religious principles and norms of behaviour typical of Islam, or propagandizing violence in the form of a holy war (jihad) against non-Muslims; recruiting followers or raising funds in support of terrorist organizations whose ideology is based on Islam, or canvassing in favour of such organizations.

The movers of the bill argue that the Penal Code criminalizes only the propagation of "anti-democratic ideology", and the only such ideology that is mentioned by name is fascism. "Criminalizing radical Islam is important considering the danger it poses to society. International terrorism has boomed as a direct result of the spread of radical Islam," the movers insist.

During the debate, the MRF described the amendments as "good for nothing". Aliosman Imamov proposed that all radical religious ideologies, along with radical Islam, should be criminalized. "We oppose any form of violence, any radicalization," the MP emphasized. "We are sick and tired of hearing anybody trying to persuade me that my religion is radical," he added and called on the MPs to consider that their words may offend more than a million Bulgarian citizens who are Muslims. "They are good people and do not think they are terrorists or that they nurture terrorists," Imamov said.

"This law targets tangible developments on a global scale and not traditional Bulgarian Muslims," said Krassimir Karakachanov of the Patriotic Front.

According to Ataka leader Volen Siderov, apart from radical Islam, other extreme religious organizations and cults must also be added to the Penal Code.