ALDE demands a ban on the Ataka party

“The Bulgarian authorities should seriously consider prohibiting the Ataka party and taking the necessary measures to punish the perpetrators of the racist attack and those who fuel racism,” stated a release of Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) to the European Parliament, about the conflict in front of the Sofia Banja Basha mosque on May 20.

Klassa reminded that there was a confrontation between activists of the Ataka party and Muslims during the Friday prayers on May 20, when several people were injured.

"The right to religious expression of all EU citizens should be respected and that includes Bulgaria as well. There is no excuse for such extremist and racist behaviour in a civilised society, "said the leader of ALDE, regarding the incident in front of the Sofia mosque.

"Such xenophobic acts are a crime against basic human rights and threaten the unique Bulgarian ethnic model, which is the basement of the country’s democratic development. The danger of ethnic tension in Bulgaria is growing, and this incident will further enhance this risk. EU membership is based on total respect for fundamental rights and Bulgaria, as an EU member-state, must observe and respect these principles," said MEP from ALDE (MRF) Metin Kazak.

“The Prosecutor’s Office may ask for the suspension of the Ataka party if sufficient evidences is collected that Volen Siderov has used the party to fuel ethnic and religious hatred,” said Sofia City Prosecutor, Nikolay Kokinov after the clashes in front of the mosque. If we find evidence that Volen Siderov was the instigator of the incident in front of the Banja Basha mosque, we may request the withdrawal of his parliamentary immunity. Steliana Kozhuharova, spokeswoman of the Prosecutor General, explained that Boris Velchev could submit such a request to the National Assembly only after the initiation of pre-trial proceedings.

“The Ataka party proposed yesterday a referendum among the Bulgarian people to be held on whether the party should be banned,“ said the party leader Volen Siderov. He, together with Desislav Chukolov and Borislav Stoyanov, stuck posters at Slaveykov square in Sofia. The poster of Ataka appeals to all Bulgarians saying: "MRF (Movement for Rights and Freedoms) demands the ban of the Ataka party! The only political force that protects the national interest in the National Assembly is facing a firing squad! "
"We appeal to Bulgarians to say whether they find it reasonable for the Ataka party to be banned," asked Volen Siderov.

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