Bulgaria--Christian Persecution in Bulgaria

Europe: Bulgaria Country Report Last Updated: January 2003 Code: A-3 (Click here for a code description.)
	(Click here for a list of ICC articles on Bulgaria.) List of Articles Last Updated: October 25, 1999

Religious Atmosphere: 69.1% of this country's people are Christian with the Orthodox Church constituting the vast majority of that group. All Christian groups are showing substantial growth. There is also a sizeable Muslim population (13.9%) in the country.

• Several members of non-Orthodox groups have claimed they have been attacked or harassed. Foreign missionaries have also claimed to be attacked in the streets.

• The Constitution designates Eastern Orthodoxy as the "traditional religion."
    
• The constitution provides for the freedom of belief, but this right is not always extended to non-Orthodox groups.
    
• All groups whose activities have a religious element must register with the Council of Ministers. However, this process can be selective and slow, with some groups being refused registration, seemingly for no legitimate reason.
     
• Recent amendments to the Law of Foreign Persons make it more difficult for religious workers to obtain visas, as there is no category for religious visas.
      
• Local governments and authorities have been known to impose their own laws regarding religious groups, which sometimes are in contradiction to the national constitution. One such law passed in the Sofia municipality in 1999 forbids the mention of miracles or healing during religious services. Other laws add registration requirements beyond those of the national government.

• Ongoing - Students wishing to enroll in the Theology Department at the University of Sophia are required to present a baptismal certificate and/or marriage certificate from the Orthodox Church.
      
• December 20, 2002 - The Bulgarian Parliament passed a controversial religion bill which requires all non-Orthodox churches to register with the court and allows for fines up to 5,000 leva ($2,620 USD) for "unauthorized religious activity." Under the law, courts can also punish religious organizations by halting their activities for up to six months or even canceling their registration. The law also imposes new restrictions on religious publications. Finally, it appears to force a resolution between two factions of the Orthodox Church by declaring that there can only be one Orthodox Church in Bulgaria. (ANS/Compass)
      
• April 2001 - Officials in the Studentski district of Sophia and in Nova Gagora city refused to allow the showing of the Jesus film during Easter celebrations. They said it "violated the tenets of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church."
      
• May 2000 – Marsita volunteer workers were attacked by 6-8 youths, who were apparently directed by an Orthodox priest. The volunteer workers were members of the Christian Unity Foundation and had planned to show a documentary film on the life of Jesus Christ. The film was stolen during the attack.
    
• December 1999 – The Zion Christian Church in Stara Zagora was vadalized with hate graffiti by unknown culprits.
     
• August, 1999 — New legislation being considered in parliament this month has non-Orthodox Christian leaders concerned. The already strict laws concerning religious organizations will become even more restrictive. Higher fines are being proposed for those who conduct religious activity without official sanction. This follows a trend already emerging in other eastern European countries where the Orthodox Church is dominant.
      
• August 1996 - a private religious school run by a registered evangelical denomination was closed by the Ministry of Education.

Prisoners: There is no evidence that prisoners are being held for their Christian beliefs at this time.

• Pray for all denominations of Christians in Bulgaria that they may be protected from harm and that the Christian message may be heard and received by all. Pray that the Orthodox Church would realize the need to not hinder the gospel message by interfering with other Christian denominations.
     
• Write a respectful letter to one or more of the government officials listed below. Express your continuing concern for the protection of religious liberty and inter-denominational equality in Bulgaria. Request information about what steps the government is taking to ensure this freedom as laid out in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights documents.
      
• Contact the elected national officials (Senators, Congressman etc.) for your area as well as the U.S. State Department and express concern for the well being of non-Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria asking them to make an inquiry into their status.
      
• Please keep us informed of any replies or results you may receive! Contact ICC by email at icc@persecution.org.

POSTED:  January 15, 2003

ICC Articles on Bulgaria: