Bulgarian Helsinki Committee: Assault on Muslims 'Not Mere Hooliganism'

The nationalists' rally at a Sofia mosque last Friday quickly escalated to a serious clash. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee criticized the decision made by the country's Prosecutor's office to press hooliganism charges  against supporters of the far right Ataka (Attack) party, who assaulted Muslims in Sofia during their Friday prayer.

"This is an inadequate decision. Friday's violence was not just a disruption of public order...it was a crime against citizens' rights. The victims of this racist crime are (Bulgarian) citizens and the state owns them justice," the committee declared Monday.

On Friday far-right extremists from the Ataka (Attack) party assaulted praying Muslims. The outburst occurred while the nationalists led by their leader Volen Siderov staged a rally near the Banya Bashi mosque in downtown Sofia protesting against the use of loudspeakers by the mosque. Several people ended up injured and several Ataka supporters were apprehended by the police.

On Monday, The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee welcomed the intention expressed by Sofia's Chief  Prosecutor to demand the banning of the Ataka formation and press charges against Ataka supporters for preaching racial hatred.

"We cannot imagine how the Prosecutor's Office could fail to gather evidence, having in mind the number of hateful statements by Ataka's leader and his associates," the committee said.

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