Ibrahim
Byalk It adds a poignant memories of communist repression in Kornitsa, quiet
village in southern Bulgaria.
"Sometimes it hurts when I move my arms, but it's nothing compared to the pain in my memory," said Byalk, looking at the field where he was shot on March 28, 1973.
That day officers raided the village and opened fire on hundreds of people protesting the regime's efforts, the Muslim forces Bulgaria changed its name to the name of the non-Islamic communities and disperse them.
The villagers in traditional dress colors gathered in the village last week to commemorate the victims. Crackdown that left five men dead and 100 people injured. More than 70 families, including families Byalk, forced to flee and settle in remote villages. "What we want is to retain the name and our faith," said Byalk (64).
Events in Kornitsa long been a part of the dark secrets of Bulgaria. Only after communism fell in 1989 and the rights of the Muslims is restored, the truth emerged.
Like many other Muslims, Byalk not want to reveal the new name he should use. He said he had "forgotten". Often new names use the first two initials of their Muslim names.
Replacement of the name began in 1973 in Kornitsa. Of 1,800 Muslim ethnic Bulgaria Pomak spread throughout the country. Ethnic Turk, a large group of Muslim Bulgaria, also targeted Communists.
Communists also kill Muslim identity by prohibiting citizens speak Turkish in public. Wearing a veil and circumcision is prohibited.
Forgive
Repression culminated in 1985 when 310,000 ethnic Turks were forced to change the name. The protests increased. In August 1989, when communism collapsed in eastern Europe, Bulgaria forced 360,000 ethnic Turks crossed into Turkey.
More than 22 years after the end of communism, Bulgarian authorities officially condemned the repression of Muslims, about 10 percent of the 7.4 million population of Bulgaria. Last January, parliament approved a declaration condemning the violence of assimilation.
"I still do not understand why they do this," said Bayram Geta (74). Geta, a protest leader Kornitsa, spent 8.5 years in prison for opposing communism. Geta wife and four children were forced to flee to a village near the Danube River.
"They even remove the names of our ancestors of Muslim gravestones," he said. Does he think of revenge? Byalk said, "We can forgive, but never forget. For those who are responsible, God will take care of it, "he added
"Sometimes it hurts when I move my arms, but it's nothing compared to the pain in my memory," said Byalk, looking at the field where he was shot on March 28, 1973.
That day officers raided the village and opened fire on hundreds of people protesting the regime's efforts, the Muslim forces Bulgaria changed its name to the name of the non-Islamic communities and disperse them.
The villagers in traditional dress colors gathered in the village last week to commemorate the victims. Crackdown that left five men dead and 100 people injured. More than 70 families, including families Byalk, forced to flee and settle in remote villages. "What we want is to retain the name and our faith," said Byalk (64).
Events in Kornitsa long been a part of the dark secrets of Bulgaria. Only after communism fell in 1989 and the rights of the Muslims is restored, the truth emerged.
Like many other Muslims, Byalk not want to reveal the new name he should use. He said he had "forgotten". Often new names use the first two initials of their Muslim names.
Replacement of the name began in 1973 in Kornitsa. Of 1,800 Muslim ethnic Bulgaria Pomak spread throughout the country. Ethnic Turk, a large group of Muslim Bulgaria, also targeted Communists.
Communists also kill Muslim identity by prohibiting citizens speak Turkish in public. Wearing a veil and circumcision is prohibited.
Forgive
Repression culminated in 1985 when 310,000 ethnic Turks were forced to change the name. The protests increased. In August 1989, when communism collapsed in eastern Europe, Bulgaria forced 360,000 ethnic Turks crossed into Turkey.
More than 22 years after the end of communism, Bulgarian authorities officially condemned the repression of Muslims, about 10 percent of the 7.4 million population of Bulgaria. Last January, parliament approved a declaration condemning the violence of assimilation.
"I still do not understand why they do this," said Bayram Geta (74). Geta, a protest leader Kornitsa, spent 8.5 years in prison for opposing communism. Geta wife and four children were forced to flee to a village near the Danube River.
"They even remove the names of our ancestors of Muslim gravestones," he said. Does he think of revenge? Byalk said, "We can forgive, but never forget. For those who are responsible, God will take care of it, "he added
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