Freedom walk of the Turks in Bulgaria: Events of May in 1989 and their reflections

Abstract

The Events of May having a distinctive place in the history of Bulgaria of Socialist Era in 1989 lead the major ethnical issues which are avoided to be discussed. These social events indicate that the processes of returning to origin which has the essence of assimilation and Bulgarization are not accepted and internalized by the Turkish Minority. The Events of May left its traces of shame as a bloody stain in the history of the Bulgaria. In the conflicts between innocent and civil mass of Turkish peoples and armed security forces, many people were injured, beaten, arrested and disabled. What is more to the point, during these events, the innocent Turks were killed who had not got any offence. In this study, reasons, progress, properties, reflections and results of the Events of May are discussed. In this study for which the Bulgarian scientific resources are frequently referred, those social events which are not known well in Turkey are enlightened and the struggle of the Turks in Bulgaria for their rights and freedom in 20th century is semtinized. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of The 2nd International Geography Symposium-Mediterranean Environment