DISTRICT COURT IN BULGARIA’S PAZARDHZIK OPENED THE HEARING AGAINST 14 IMAMS

On 25th of February, the District Court in the town of Pazardzhik, South Bulgaria, opened the hearing on 14 people, who are facing allegations of spreading the ideas of Islamic State. Some of the defense lawyers requested suspension of the proceedings and returning it to the prosecution for removal of significant, according to the defense, omissions.

However, the magistrates did not grant their request. The court is confirming the Identity of the defendants and will then consider the indictment. Three of the defendants claimed that they had not been provided with all the papers and had not been given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the papers. One of the defense lawyers explained that he had only been recently engaged by his client and also requested the hearing to be postponed. The translation of the book “Apostasy”, which is also part of the indictment, has not been read by some of the defense lawyers.