EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS PENALIZED BULGARIA OVER THE INCIDENT OUTSIDE THE MOSQUE IN SOFIA IN 2011

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg has penalized Bulgaria over the incident outside Banya Bashi Mosque in Sofia in May 2011, when members of the nationalist Ataka party clashed with Muslims waiting for the midday prayer.

The court in Strasbourg has penalized Bulgaria to pay nearly 8,000 euro on the case, which was initiated by Velli Karaahmed.

The clashes in May 2011 started after members and supporters of the nationalist party Ataka gathered outside the mosque to protest against the loud noise coming from the mosque’s loudspeakers. The complaint submitted by Karaahmed says that the nationalist party supporters provoked the people gathered outside the mosque by throwing eggs and stones at them and setting fire to a prayer rug.

The complaint also says that the police did not provide effective protection of the worshipers.

The ECHR accepted the complaint against the actions of the Bulgarian authorities during and after the incident.

The ruling of the court is based on the text from the Convention for Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.