Bulgaria’s Islamic Party Stirs Debate

Hany Salah, IOL Correspondent
CAIRO – The formation of an Islamic party is sparking a heated debate in Bulgaria within the Muslim community and the official establishment, amid fears of straining ethnic cohesion in the south-eastern European country.

“I do not think the formation of this party serves Bulgaria’s Muslims,” Arif Abdullah, former chairman of the Islamic Union for Development and Culture, told IslamOnline.net over the phone from Sofia.

“This is a hasty and uncalculated step.”

The Muslim Democratic Union was formed in the northern village of Slavyanovo on September 29 and Ali Yuzeirov was elected its chair.

The party, which is yet to be registered, was founded through 680 written declarations.

The news drew cautious reactions from the official establishment.

“The creation of a similar formation undoubtedly causes tension,” warned President Georgi Parvanov.

“I think the response of the public institutions was adequate.”

But the founders are defending their actions.

“The party respects the moral values which all faiths promote, including Islam,” Yuzeirov told IOL.

He said the name of the party does not mean it would be Islamic in its regulations and bylaws.

“It will be just like the registered Christian Democratic Party which respects Christian values. Our party would similarly respect Islamic values.”

Yuzeirov asserts that the party’s membership would be open to all Bulgarians.

“Every one, either Muslim or non-Muslim, can join as long as they adhere to the moral values promoted by all faiths.

“The party would defend the rights of all Bulgarians, including Muslims.”

Muslims, who make up 12 percent of Bulgaria's 7.8 million population, have lived with Christians in relative harmony for centuries.

Mostly ethnic Turkish descendants of the Ottoman Empire's reach into Europe, they live beside Christians in a culture known as "komshuluk", or neighborly relations.

Concerns

Still, some are fearful the party’s formation could strain ethnic cohesion in the European country.

“This would fuel tension between Muslims and Christians,” fears Hussein Ouda, an activist of Palestinian backgrounds.

He is worried that some nationalist parties would use the new party to incite against Muslims.

“Whoever wants to seek a new political party should be familiar with the society where they live and not embroil Muslims in such dangerous adventures.”

Abdullah, the former chairman of the Islamic Union for Development and Culture, agrees.

“The Yuzeirovs don’t have the popularity to win the elections.”

Ouda noted that the Yuzeirov brothers sparked a storm recently after forming a charity, the Bulgarian Red Crescent,” with the crescent as its emblem.

“The controversy only died down after the two brothers added the cross to the emblem upon an advice from key Muslim figures,” he added.

“Good intentions are not enough. Enthusiasm should be coupled with awareness of the reality on the ground and wisdom in dealing with it so as not to provoke the broader society.”