Only Bulgarian Nationalists Indicted over Mosque Clash

On May 20, supporters of the nationalist Ataka party set on fire rugs Muslims use to pray. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Legal charges over the May 20 clash between Bulgarian nationalists and Muslims have been pressed only against supporters of the far-right Ataka party, Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, announced.

The Minister spoke in the Parliament Friday, during the regular parliamentary control session, in response to a question coming from Ataka leader, Volen Siderov.

Tsvetanov informed the two people, who have been indicted so far, have been attacking praying Muslims at the Banya Bashi mosque in downtown Sofia, while the probe against those hitting the Ataka Member of the Parliament, Denitsa Gadzheva, and other nationalists, remains being against "unknown perpetrators."

The Minister explained the investigation was ongoing and witnesses were still being identified. He listed by minutes the actions of the police, and said, regarding Siderov's objection the authorities are applying double standards, he actually restrained from offering many details because the incident threatens democracy in Bulgaria.

The Nationalist asked Tsvetanov why Muslims have not been arrested and charged, and why the police failed to react when it had been notified by Ataka prior to the rally that provocations could be expected.

The Minister recommended to the Ataka leader and to other MPs to restrain from incitements and scandals.

On May 20, supporters of the far-right, nationalist Ataka party, led by party Chair, Volen Siderov, shocked Bulgaria as its rally protesting against the use of loudspeakers by the mosque in downtown Sofia got out of hand, and activists of Ataka assaulted praying Muslims in front of the mosque.

The incident has had wider repercussions, all the way from Bulgarians flocking to lay flowers at the mosque as a sign of apology, to the start of investigation of Ataka for stirring ethnic and religious hatred and the consolidation of the voters of the Bulgarian ethnic Turkish party DPS (Movement for Rights and Freedoms).

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