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New arrests over radical Islam in Bulgaria

Photo: BGNES

In the Bulgarian cities of Pazardzhik, Plovdiv and Asenovgrad the Prosecution has pressed charges on 8 people over the case against followers of the “Islamic State." This way charges have been pressed against a total of 15 people. A similar operation was carried out by the Prosecution, the Agency for National Security Agency and the Interior Ministry in November last year in five Bulgarian cities. Then 7 people were arrested for preaching radical Islam mainly in the Roma neighborhoods. Now charges involve participation in a group that advocates extremist religious ideology, the creation of caliphate and resorts to war propaganda. Witnesses claim that the arrested used Facebook to spread calls for jihad and violence, and one of their comments read: 'We declare jihad and will cut the heads of captured infidels." According to the prosecution, the group sought popularity not only in Bulgaria but wanted to establish contacts with "Islamic State" and to receive funding from the organization. The circumstances surrounding the case are somewhat confusing and contradictory. The leadership of the Islamic religion in Bulgaria claims that there is no radical Islam in this country. Some experts on Islamic affairs and security experts are of the opinion that it was not a matter of radical but of political Islam and operations like those carried out in Bulgaria have become commonplace across the world. Experts also claim this country needed urgent law changes in order to avoid future risks. Even the prosecution avoided blaming the arrested of "radical Islam" and holds them responsible for preaching "anti-democratic ideology." Keeping in mind the circumstances, the actions of law enforcement authorities seem insecure. Insecure before threats for decapitating infidels... And this is mostly because of the absence of a law to criminalize activities associated with radical Islam, or political Islam, because the danger of these actions is too obvious.



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