Pazardzhik Court Orders 7 Accused To Remain In Custody

The Pazardzhik court ruled that the seven accused for propagation of anti-democratic ideology and and instigation of war must remain under arrest, awaiting trial.

The seven were apprehended on Thursday during an operation of the National Security Agency (DANS) in Pazardzhik on suspicions of supporting and propagating radical Islam and the ideology of the Islamic State in the Iztok Roma quarter in the town. Among them is the imam Ahmed Musa Ahmed who already has a sentence of four years in prison on similar charges.

The court found that the symbolic text they were using was indeed part of the Quran, but the seven accused started using after it became the slogan of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organisation.

The court ruled that even though the seven are not likely to escape, there is a likelihood that they could commit another crime, so they must remain in custody.

The ruling can be appealed.