Date Type 15/09/2015 JAL Case No Country Mandate(s) BGR 3/2015 Bulgaria Cultural Rights; Freedom of religion; Minority issues; Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply Allegations concerning the initiation of archaeological excavations in the vicinity 18/11/2015 of a mosque and planned conversion of the religious site into a museum. According to the information received, on 14 June 2015, the local government of Karlovo started excavation works aimed at exposing archaeological remains in and around Kurshun Mosque and at converting the site into a museum, without prior notification or consultation with the Muslim community of Bulgaria. The ownership of the Kurshun Mosque has been long disputed and is currently not open for worship; however, it reportedly bears great religious importance for the Muslim community, who views the works as an act of desecration. Similar projects of public works and excavations have allegedly also been carried out at other sites of religious significance for the Muslim community without prior consultation, including at Hamza Bey Mosque in Stara Zagora, Makbul Pasha Mosque in Razgrad and Mihaloglu Mosque in Ihtiman. Controversies regarding the ownership and use of mosques in Bulgaria have reportedly caused tension in the country, including protests against the religious use of Muslim places of worship. A/HRC/31/79 103