MAYOR AND RELIGIOUS REPRESENTATIVES IN BULGARIA'S CAPITAL SEEK SOLUTION TO MOSQUE PROBLEM

08:00 Tue 18 Jul 2006

Sofia Mayor Boiko Borissov said he made sure the sound from the loudspeakers of the central mosque in Sofia remains below disturbing levels.

Last week Borissov requested the removal of the loudspeakers used for summoning people for prayer, Dnevnik newspaper reported. On July 17 Borissov met representatives of the Chief Mufti’s Office to discuss the issue.

The level has been turned down so that it does not disturb anyone, secretary of the Chief Mufti’s Office Hussein Hafuzov said.

Summoning Muslims for prayer was an essential part of the ritual, representatives of the Chief Mufti’s Office said.

Representatives of ultra-nationalist movement Ataka have been for some time collecting signatures for the removal of the speakers.

Ataka leader Volen Siderov said the loudspeakers could be used for the spread of political messages.

Comments

Comments by Helaine Rampley - 09:08 25 Jul 2006
	It seems to me that requiring the loud speakers to be removed from the mosques is a form of religious persecution. This does not bode well for a country wanting to enter the EU. If the speakers are turned down so as not to be overly loud, that should suffice. I for one, when I visited Bulgaria, found the call to prayer from the mosques to be quite inspiring and lovely to hear even though I am Orthodox in my belief and of Bulgarian nationality.
Comments by anne wright - 19:20 25 Jul 2006
	I am English лive in Барна анд И хаже нот хеард тхе цалл то праъер ин софиа.Ласт ъеар ве жиситед Истанбул анд И тхоугхт тхе цалл анциент анд беаутифул.