AHMED MUSA REMAINS IN CUSTODY

On 21st of May, the Court of Appeals in the South Bulgarian city of Plovdiv ruled Ahmed Musa, who was alleged in propagating antidemocratic ideology of Islamic state, to be kept in permanent custody. In reaching the judgement the magistrates considered that there would be a risk of him committing further crimes if he was to be granted bail. Therefore he will remain in custody until the start of the court proceedings.

Ahmed Musa Ahmed was taken into custody on 25th of November 2014 after a special operation of the Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office, the State Agency for National Security (SANS) and the Ministry of Interior conducted against radical ideologies in four Bulgarian cities.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Musa had tried to cause changes to the public and state order. The indictment against him is expected to be ready within 2 months. However, the defence argues that the prosecutors rely on testimony of secret witnesses.

Regarding the allegations for preaching radical Islam, Musa’s lawyer Elvira Pankova explained that there was nothing worrying because generally Muslims listened to sermons every Friday.

Ercan Smail, also accused in the same offences, also remains in permanent custody.