European Commission expert evaluation

Religious communities in Bulgaria deprived of their rights

European Commission experts expressed their criticism regarding the Bulgarian Law on religious communities, the so-called Act on Confessions. The European experts state that this law "undermines the religious pluralism in Bulgaria".

It is estimated that, according to the law, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is privileged compared to the other communities. This law also gives the right to the Bulgarian Religious Communities Directorate to influence the religious communities court registration and punish the religious leaders. A European Council representative went on a three-day mission to Bulgaria to see the facts and prepare a report regarding this law.

 

M.I.