In an interview with Al-Mujtama Magazine, Sheikh Mustafa Izbishtali, Coordinator of European Affairs for the Bulgarian Grand Mufti’s office, detailed the achievements of the past three and a half years for the Bulgarian Muslim community residing in Europe.
Referring to the massive migration of Bulgarian Muslims after Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, he said: “We realized that the real challenge was preserving the religious and cultural identity of the new generations. So instead of seasonal and limited activities, we moved toward a strategic, institution-building project”.
Sheikh Izbishtali announced that the Bulgarian Grand Mufti’s office now has active and established connections with five European countries: Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and France. According to him, official associations and organizations of the Bulgarian Muslim community have been established and are operating in these countries.
Sheikh Izbishtali also announced a major project in France: “A four-story building has been purchased for the construction of a mosque and cultural center. This project will be a comprehensive model combining worship, education, and culture”.
At the end, Sheikh Izbishtali spoke of efforts to launch a single European platform to coordinate among Bulgarian Muslim organizations, saying: “We are seeking to create a collective framework that represents the unity of the Bulgarian Muslim community in Europe and guarantees an organized and influential presence”.
