site.btaPresident Hosts Iftar Dinner Marking Beginning of Ramadan

President Iliana Iotova hosted a traditional iftar dinner in Sofia on Friday marking the onset of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims. Addressing the guests at the fast-breaking evening meal, she said that the aspirations of the human heart are the same - both in joy and in worries, regardless of what house of worship a person prays in.

She noted that religious communities live in peace and understanding in Bulgaria, and described this fact as "a national achievement that our ancestors worked for." According to President Iotova, how Bulgaria will develop and what the future will be will depend on tolerance and understanding.

The Chief Mufti of Muslims in Bulgaria, Mustafa Hadji, said that the role of religion is to encourage people to stand up for their rights, but also to respect the rights of others. He added that while living freely, we should know that unlimited freedom leads to downfall. According to Hadji, the Bulgarian people enjoy freedom and democracy, but should not forget that this is a responsibility. 

The dinner was attended by the Head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniil, members of the Muslim and other religious communities, representatives of government institutions, diplomats, and figures from the fields of culture, education, and science.

The holy month of Ramadan will continue until March 19, after which believers will celebrate Ramadan Bayram, also known as Sheker Bayram, a three-day holiday symbolized by baklava and other sweets.

In the 2021 census, a total of 638,708 people in Bulgaria identified themselves as Muslims, making just under 10% of the total population of 6.5 million.