The Bulgarian police detained more than 120 people after hundreds of nationalists and soccer fans attacked a mosque in Plovdiv and smashed its windows with stones. The protesters then walked through the city, chanting racist slogans and approaching the mosque that was surrounded by police men. The police said that "fireworks, torches and stones were thrown at the mosque". The Mufti of Bulgaria criticized the attack. He said that Muslims make up 13 % of Bularia's population of 7.3 million people and form the biggest community which was harmed during the communist regime. They were even forced to change their names.

In related news, more than 2000 people had gathered in front of the court of Plovdiv as an appeal case about the return of a mosque, that was taken over by the state more than 1000 years ago, to the Bulgarian Mufti, who should be resposnibe for it in their view. (Author not mentioned, al-Watan, Feb. 16, p. 12). Read original text in Arabic.