Heightened security as ‘radical Islam’ trial resumes in Bulgaria’s Pazardzhik

Security was tightened at the district court in Pazardzhik on October 29 2012 as the trial resumed of 13 Muslims alleged to have advocated the violent overthrow of the Bulgarian state and its replacement with an Islamic theocracy.

Compounding the situation was a planned protest by Bulgarian ultra-nationalists who said that they would be at the court to stand in support of a secular state and against the wearing of Muslim garb.

The trial started on September 18 and has seen incidents after large crowds who turned out in support of the accused being unable to be accommodated in the courtroom.

Seven witnesses were due to be heard by the court on October 29, of whom three were scheduled to give evidence anonymously.

Evidence was also to be given about official translations of books confiscated by the State Agency for National Security (SANS) during the operation that led to the prosecutions. (continue reading...)