Newsletters
At the beginning of the 2025–2026 school year, Sofia welcomed its first Imam Hatip High School, marking a historic step for Bulgaria’s Muslim community.
The school officially opened its doors to students following a ceremony attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador Mehmet Sait Uyanik and Bulgaria’s Chief Mufti Mustafa Alis Haci.
Ambassador Uyanik expressed his pleasure at the launch of the new school building, which will host both the Imam Hatip High School and a Higher Islamic Institute.
He encouraged students to excel academically, participate in social and cultural activities, develop hobbies, follow global developments and technology, improve their Turkish and foreign language skills, and take advantage of scholarship opportunities in Türkiye for higher education.
Chief Mufti Mustafa Alis Haci explained that the school building had been acquired in 2019 in a dilapidated state.
With support from the Bulgarian government and Turkish organizations, the building was restored and modernized to accommodate the high school and the Higher Islamic Institute.
Initially, the school will enroll 19 students, with plans to expand in the future.
The new Imam Hatip High School joins other longstanding institutions in Bulgaria, including schools in Shumen, Ruse and Mestanli.
With over 716,000 students enrolled in 2,300 schools across the country, this new institution provides Muslim students in Sofia with an opportunity to receive a comprehensive education combining religious and secular studies.
The school aims to foster academic excellence, cultural development, and international opportunities for its students, strengthening educational ties between Bulgaria and Türkiye while supporting the local Muslim community.
2 min read
