ID :
184263
Wed, 05/25/2011 - 10:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/184263
The shortlink copeid
Iran Condemns Attack on Muslim Worshippers in Bulgaria
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran strongly condemned violence against a group of Muslims in the Bulgarian capital city of Sofia, which left a number of Muslim worshippers wounded.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast condemned the attack against the Muslim worshippers in a Sofia Mosque.
According to the Iranian students news agency, Mehman-Parast raised grave concerns over escalating anti-Islamic waves in Europe, and called it an "instance of human rights violation".
He then criticized the EU for lack of any pre-emptive measure on the issue as calling for European authorities to create a safe place for their citizens free of racist tendencies through spreading respect for religious minorities' rights.
He also urged punishment of the agents involved in the attack by the Bulgarian authorities as soon as possible.
Supporters of Volen Siderov, the leader of the far-right ultra-nationalist party Ataka raided the Muslim prayers during Friday prayers last week. Several worshippers and a number of policemen were injured in the attack.
Siderov, who is candidate in the October 11 presidential election, said during the Friday protest that he wanted demonstrations against Muslims to continue in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is now home to around one million Muslims.
However, there are grave concerns that the Muslim community could be deprived of their constitutional rights of religious expression if the extremist Ataka party's leader takes power in the upcoming election.
The Bulgarian government has recently forbidden women from wearing headscarves in their passport photos and banned certain literature that focuses on Islam in movies that are widely viewed as part of a campaign against the country's Muslims.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast condemned the attack against the Muslim worshippers in a Sofia Mosque.
According to the Iranian students news agency, Mehman-Parast raised grave concerns over escalating anti-Islamic waves in Europe, and called it an "instance of human rights violation".
He then criticized the EU for lack of any pre-emptive measure on the issue as calling for European authorities to create a safe place for their citizens free of racist tendencies through spreading respect for religious minorities' rights.
He also urged punishment of the agents involved in the attack by the Bulgarian authorities as soon as possible.
Supporters of Volen Siderov, the leader of the far-right ultra-nationalist party Ataka raided the Muslim prayers during Friday prayers last week. Several worshippers and a number of policemen were injured in the attack.
Siderov, who is candidate in the October 11 presidential election, said during the Friday protest that he wanted demonstrations against Muslims to continue in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is now home to around one million Muslims.
However, there are grave concerns that the Muslim community could be deprived of their constitutional rights of religious expression if the extremist Ataka party's leader takes power in the upcoming election.
The Bulgarian government has recently forbidden women from wearing headscarves in their passport photos and banned certain literature that focuses on Islam in movies that are widely viewed as part of a campaign against the country's Muslims.
