President Radev Hosts Iftar Dinner as Ramadan Starts

Momchil Rusev

President Rumen Radev during iftar dinner on March 11, 2024 (BTA Photo)

Sofia,

11.03.2024 19:40

(BTA)

President Rumen Radev hosted an iftar dinner in Sofia to mark the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the head of State's press office said on Monday. “At a time of dramatic trials for humanity, today's event is also an occasion to make our common call for peace and understanding, for compassion and support for those in distress in regions of bloody military conflicts - where innocent women and children continue to die every day, and where human life has ceased to be a value,” Radev said.

He stressed that it was a great pleasure for him to host the Iftar dinner. Radev pointed out that it was an expression of his conviction about the importance of religious traditions in Bulgaria.

“The coming days and weeks are not only a time for fasting and prayer, for reflection, they are also an opportunity for humility and forgiveness, for mercy and alms,” the President said. He said that believers are driven by the natural aspiration for spiritual upliftment to seek new strength on the path of humanity and the strengthening of public morality.

The Bulgarian people are an example of tolerance and good coexistence, which is in contrast to what is happening worldwide, where wars are fought on religious grounds, said the Bulgarian Chief Mufti Mustafa Hadzhi. Ramadan brings people together and gives them the opportunity to leave behind their daily commitments and enjoy the positive side of life, rejoice in what they have and gather strength and courage, looking ahead with hope for a better future, he added.

He noted that believers, regardless of their religion, are hopeful about the future because they believe and know that the Almighty loves them and will not abandon them. ”Religion is not a belief in the afterlife, it is closely related to the life around us and we, the religious leaders, have a calling to explain it to the people in an accessible and contemporary language,” Hadzhi said.

Representatives of the Muslim and other traditional religious communities in this country, representatives of the diplomatic corps in Bulgaria and public figures were invited to the traditional dinner.

/RY/