The municipal council in Bulgaria’s second-largest city Plovdiv voted on May 17 to reject a proposal to ban the wearing of the burqa in public places.
As in other cities where the proposal has been made – and in the case of the municipalities of Pazardzhik and Stara Zagora, already accepted – the move was initiated by nationalist party VMRO.
At the Plovdiv municipal council meeting, there were 15 votes in favour, 12 against and 21 abstentions, defeating the proposal.
Plovdiv mayor Ivan Totev, who initially had said that it was his personal opinion that there should be a ban on the burqa in public places, told the council meeting that he would not a big speech on this important topic, but wanted to draw attention to it pending the state making a decision on the matter. [The Sofia Globe] Read more
