Religious freedom facing challenges due to political turmoil in Bulgaria
MAN, THE UNFAIR HAMMER:
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA), and the United Evangelical Churches (UEC) in Bulgaria are rolling the dice once more on the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Why? To push Bulgaria to strengthen religious freedom and shield minorities, particularly Roma Evangelical communities, from unfair treatment.
This joint report delves into why Bulgaria needs to clean up its political act, revealing how its dirty landscape negatively impacts those fundamental rights and freedoms. And guess what's at the heart of it all? Abuse of legal powers by the Prosecutor's Office of Bulgaria.
The report also sheds light on Bulgaria's precarious political situation, having been through seven rounds of parliamentary elections in the past three years. Despite a government in place since October 2024, it's still a teetering totter, with whispers of vote-buying and election manipulation echoing in the halls of power. Such a toxic climate fosters a disregard for civil rights, including civil liberties of religious groups and minorities.
Article 13 of the Bulgarian Constitution insists that religious communities can't be used for political purposes. But Bulgarian evangelicals cry foul, claims of vote-buying being rampant, driven by social and economic inequalities. The Roma communities bear the brunt of this, their living conditions dire, leaving them dependent on the whims of politicians. It's no surprise that in such areas, it's common to see votes being peddled for cash or social benefits.
The report highlights three instances of religious freedom violations, political rights infringements, and racism — all involving Roma Evangelical churches that have been singled out. On the other hand, majority Orthodox churches and non-Roma Evangelical churches cruise through without a hitch, without inspections or criminal charges against their pastors.
But the report doesn't stop there. It calls upon the Bulgarian government to adhere to its international obligations and make good on them through legislative changes and practical measures. It also demands independent investigations into reported violations, legislative reforms to stamp out corruption and manipulation in elections, and robust systems to shield religious communities from political coercion and discrimination.
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Published in Evangelical Focus - Europe - Political Instability Takes a Toll on Religious Freedom in Bulgaria
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Bulgaria's historical pattern of minority suppression and systemic discrimination provides context for the struggles of Roma Evangelical communities amidst the nation's political instability and allegations of vote-buying.
In the post-communist transition period and through Balkan regional upheavals since the 1990s, Bulgaria, like many other states in the region, has emphasized nationalism and applied pressures on minorities as a means of political legitimacy amid failing communist regimes and economic difficulties [1][2].
Minorities such as Roma, Pomaks, and Turks have historically faced forced assimilation policies, and this legacy of repression has impacted Protestant churches, including the Evangelical communities [1][2].
Roma Evangelical communities, already vulnerable due to intersecting ethnic and religious discrimination, are at particular risk under political instability.
Allegations of vote-buying undermine their political representation and access to rights, exacerbating their vulnerabilities.
The historical legacy of communist-era purges and forced assimilation policies contribute to the ongoing challenges for the Roma Evangelical population as they strive for religious freedom and minority rights [1][2].
In the midst of Bulgaria's turbulent political landscape marked by vote-buying and election manipulation, the general news highlights the critical need for upholding civil liberties, particularly those of religious groups and minorities, such as the Roma Evangelical communities.
Amidst this instability, it's crucial for Bulgaria to stay committed to its international obligations, focusing on legislative changes, independent investigations, and addressing systemic discrimination to ensure that all religious communities, especially those historically marginalized and suppressed like the Roma Evangelical communities, can exercise their right to religious freedom.
