site.btaPresident to Host Traditional Iftar Dinner Friday

Bulgaria’s President Iliana Iotova will be hosting a traditional iftar dinner on February 20 to mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, said the President's Press Secretariat. The event will bring together representatives of the Muslim community alongside leaders from other traditional religious denominations in the country.

Invitations have also been extended to officials from state institutions, members of the diplomatic corps, and figures from the fields of spirituality, culture, education, and science.

Earlier in the day, MRF – New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski marked the start of Ramadan with a public message to Muslims in Bulgaria. In his greeting, he wished health, peace, and spiritual strength to families and homes, expressing hope that iftar dinners would be filled with warmth and abundance. Peevski said the values of Ramadan - humility, kindness, compassion, and solidarity - have the power to inspire good deeds and greater understanding at a time when unity is especially needed.

The parliamentary group of the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms issued a declaration in the National Assembly, calling for unity, compassion, and the protection of religious and ethnic peace during Ramadan. Floor leader Hayri Sadakov described the holy month as a reminder of mercy, forgiveness, and shared humanity, stressing that these values strengthen society in times of division and uncertainty. He urged political leaders and institutions to safeguard interfaith harmony as a matter of national security and concluded with wishes for health, hope, and peace for Muslims in Bulgaria and around the world.

Both MRF – New Beginning and the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms draw significant political support from communities of ethnic Turks, many of whom observe the holy month of Ramadan.