In the present world situation, concerning the Iraq issue, what message do you convey to Arab countries?

I am grateful that you give me the opportunity to answer this question. Information has been circulated, which misquotes me when referring to Arab countries. It was said that I, the Chief Mufti, have a negative attitude towards Arab countries and their people, but this was groundless. I have extremely good relations with the whole diplomatic corps in Bulgaria and especially with the ambassadors of Arab countries present here.

I would like to specify and emphasise that I love all ethnic groups around the world and I would never dare separate them. I am strongly against the killing of people in wars and I think that this should be the strong belief of everyone who has faith in the Merciful. I hope that innocent people will not die in the future.

The president of the Straight Path Foundation for Bulgarian Nationals of Turkish Origin last year warned of a threat from Islamic fundamentalism in Bulgaria. There were accusations that the Bulgarian Chief Mufti's Office was aware that Muslim fundamentalist training was being done in Bulgaria. It was also reported that 60 fundamentalist organisations operate in the country. What do you think about these allegations?

This is pure fantasy. Such a thing cannot exist in Bulgaria because Bulgarian Muslims have never been, and never will be, fundamentalists. They practice traditional moderate Islam and we make sure that alien radical beliefs and ideas are banned.

The people responsible for these allegations are impudent and are taking advantage of the consequences of the attacks in the US to discredit the Chief Mufti's Office and to force a split in the Muslim community.

Such organisations do not exist in Bulgaria. I am forced to constantly repeat that there are no fundamentalists in Bulgaria. I had to take the ambassadors of 13 Arab countries to visit the regions named as fundamentalist-breeding organisations. I had to persuade the leaders of the Muslim community in Bulgaria that Osama bin Laden has no radical Islam bases in Bulgaria. A part of this was the organised visit of Western diplomats to the Muslim school in Sarnitza. Ambassadors saw for themselves that such accusations did not correspond to reality.

The media was also convinced that Bulgaria does not have any connections with terrorists or fundamentalists. The moderate Islam that Bulgarian Muslims believe in is not a burden to society in Bulgaria. I want to keep it that way. The Mufti Office will make it known if such radical elements exist. We have some concerns because Bulgaria is a democratic country and everybody is able to travel around the world and can thus be exposed to extreme religious beliefs, but I am positive that the mass of Bulgarian Muslims cannot accept such radical elements.

Is there religious tolerance in Bulgaria?

There is great tolerance for different religions in Bulgaria, with a few tiny exceptions of course. There are, and always will be, people who challenge the good. That is how life's wheels turn. Bulgarians are tolerant of other religions but are ardent supporters of Orthodoxy. Approximately 83.6 per cent of Bulgarian citizens are Orthodox Christians and approximately 12.1 per cent are Muslims, while the remainder includes a total of 34 denominations officially registered with the Government.

That is not the way it was during the communist regime, when there were five or six religions at most. This influences Bulgarian society negatively. The big religions like Orthodoxy and Islam have split and formed other religions. They sometimes even transform into sects. These new religions entered from the west (Canada and the US mainly) sponsored by affluent foundations and companies. These religious groups take advantage of people's poverty to attract followers.

I am not going to mention any religions in particular because all of us have our belief that our religion is sacred. If Islam is referred to negatively I will be very offended. Maybe a Muslim committed a terrorist act, but this does not automatically mean that his religion caused him to do it. On the contrary, this has a negative impact on the religion to which a terrorist belongs. I am completely convinced that the Muslim ideology enjoins only positive and good things and forbids evil.

What are your relations with Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim at present?

On November 6 an unprecedented meeting took place between Patriarch Maxim, the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and I. This was the first meeting between the two heads of religious communities in the whole history of Bulgaria. Undoubtedly it is a positive sign for future interrelations between the two main religious communities in Bulgaria. I am proud of this meeting. I have wanted to achieve this for many years and that's why I am proud. We need to have good relations with the Eastern Orthodox Church. I was concerned about the Bulgarian Orthodoxy split. It is all turning out for the better now. I do not want to be angry about different believers taking sides - I want unity of religious faith and I want it for my own religion too.

What is the origination and history of the institution of the Chief Mufti in Bulgaria?

The Chief Mufti of Bulgarian Muslims has existed since the division of the Ottoman Empire. Primarily, it used to be dependent on the Sheik-ul-Islam (the Empire's highest religious authority) and later on it was formed as a Bulgarian Muslim Institution.

The Chief Muslim Office in Bulgaria's most recent history has played a very important role through the various historic events happening here connected with religious beliefs.

How would you evaluate the work of the Chief Mufti's Office for the past three years?

I dare say that in the past two years I have managed to impose a positive way of thinking in connection with the Chief Mufti's office. I tried to impose the fact that the Chief Mufti is an institution of the Muslim people in the Republic of Bulgaria. There was a certain feeling of foreignness towards the Institution in the past.

How many Muslims live in Bulgaria?

Islam is the second largest religious belief in Bulgaria. The latest statistics show one million Muslims in the country. Most of them are ethnic Turks.

What is the function of the Chief Mufti's Office?

The Mufti's Office has a substantial role in the country. On one side it is the sole organiser of the religious life of Bulgarian Muslims and on the other side it represents Bulgaria's Muslim community outside the country. In this respect many things have been achieved in the past few years.

The Chief Mufti's Office supports the country irrespective of the problems Muslims have at present. We left problems aside so that Bulgaria can achieve a better image for the European Union. I have met many representatives from the EU to whom I have talked about extremely positive things. One of the things I have always said was that Muslims in Bulgaria have complete liberty to profess their religious rituals and that their religious freedom is not restricted. I have always told foreign visitors that Bulgaria is a very democratic country and that ethnic Bulgarians are tolerant of those from different religions.

Alongside what I have said, economic problems are the only ones that exist for the time being. We have achieved a lot from a democratic point of view but we are lagging behind on the economic level. If these two dimensions can come closer to each other in Bulgaria then life here will be much more bearable.

What were some of the major events you organised or took part in as Chief Mufti in the past three years?

One of the most significant events in the Muslim world was the conference in Assisi and the one hosted in Sofia on September 12. We organised a big conference in 2001 with representatives of 55 Muslim countries. All of the participants were citizens of minority groups from countries around the world. The topical issue was Muslims' rights in these countries. This was the third successive conference following those in Spain and Brazil. The world peace prayer was organised in Assisi and was supported by the Pope.

Are Bulgarian institutions in favour of such contact and are they supportive in respect of religious education?

They are favourable and co-operative but as a whole the state has a problem with our institutions as well. Things are clearing away and I am trying hard in this respect because I want to supervise the whole process. I need to be informed and have time to react.

Is there any liberalisation of the Muslim religion?

This topic is very profound and it needs to be commented on exhaustively because the Islamic canons are not changeable. We have no right to change them. For example I cannot accept the Talib point of view. If they see the cannons of Islam in this way then I have to tell them that they are wrong and have made a mistake.

I think that Islam is a modern religion of civilisation. There is nothing ugly and unacceptable to be seen there. If there is something unacceptable this does not mean it springs from religion but that it springs directly from individuals. I think that the Islamic religion belongs to the mind and wisdom of each person.

Is there any curriculum for teaching Islam and where is it applied?

Islamic education in schools (in the areas, where the Muslims are majority of the population) has been launched. It is strictly in accordance with the Chief Mufti's Office and all the books and textbooks have been prepared by us. The head Mufti Office has published three books for the study of Islam, for second, third and fourth year pupils. The curriculum, subjects and information included in the books should not bother society. These are the books that Muslim children read and learn from. They consist of rituals and beliefs and lay emphasis on moral and human values.

On the occasion of the three-day Muslim holiday Kurban Bayram on February 11 where are you going to be and how are you going to celebrate it?

I have been invited by the American government to get acquainted with the US and I will stay there for a month. Many leaders have done this already. When I go there I will try to tell them about Bulgaria and promote the country. I will meet many communities including Bulgarians living there. My aim is to meet American citizens, institutions and UN residents.