A protest against the repression and arrests of activists in Turkiye was held outside the country’s embassy in Sofia on Friday. The protest was organized by Amnesty International Bulgaria and the Lespectra Association. The event had been coordinated with Sofia Municipality, and a heightened police presence was maintained at the scene.
The organizers said they were joining forces to oppose the repression of LGBTQ+ activists, journalists and human rights defenders in Turkiye. They called for the immediate release of all those arrested and an end to the persecution and stigmatisation of LGBTQ+ people in the country.
“We gathered for this action to oppose the actions of the authorities in Turkiye, who arrested more than 80 people a week ago. Human rights defenders and activists are among those affected, and more than 160 people have been charged,” said Nayden Rashkov of Amnesty International Bulgaria.
According to Rashkov, the situation was also related to Turkish legislation concerning family unification. “We believe that human rights have been violated. Searches have been carried out at their homes and at the offices of organisations working on human rights and LGBTQ+ issues,” he added.
The aim of the protest was to express solidarity with colleagues in Turkiye and to send a message that such actions should not take place in Bulgaria, Turkiye or anywhere else where human rights must be respected, another organiser said.
Amnesty International representatives said the organization systematically works to defend the rights of people in Turkiye, including political prisoners, and that, as part of the global movement, it seeks to bring such cases to public attention. They also recalled a specific case from last year involving a university lecturer detained in Turkiye, which the organisation had raised in Bulgaria as an expression of solidarity.
Protesters carried placards bearing slogans including “Hate is not a family value,” “Solidarity with the LGBT+ community,” “LGBT rights are human rights,” “No family is safe under oppression,” “No family is safe under oppression,” “Solidarity with our LGBTQ+ siblings in Turkiye,” “Silence = Death” and “Hate is not a family value.”
BTA recalls that Turkiye has detained LGBTQ+ activists as part of a large-scale investigation.
Protest against Arrests of Activists in Turkiye Held Outside Embassy in Sofia THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-02 16:37:16
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Culture news Bulgaria, Bulgarian culture news, Bulgaria cultural news, latest culture news, breaking culture news, Bulgarian arts news, Bulgarian cultural events. Bulgarian artists, Bulgarian art, Bulgarian literature, Bulgarian books, Bulgarian writers, Bulgarian authors, Bulgarian music, Bulgarian musicians. Bulgarian cinema, Bulgarian films, Bulgarian theatre, Bulgarian actors, Bulgarian directors, Bulgarian festivals, cultural festivals Bulgaria. Bulgarian museums, Bulgarian galleries, Bulgarian heritage, Bulgarian traditions, Bulgarian folklore, Bulgarian history, Bulgarian archaeology. Sofia culture, Plovdiv culture, Varna culture, Burgas culture, Ruse culture, Bulgarian cultural heritage, Bulgaria UNESCO heritage. Bulgarian exhibitions, Bulgarian concerts, Bulgarian performances, Bulgarian cultural institutions, Bulgarian national culture, contemporary Bulgarian art, Bulgarian creative industries. Bulgaria cultural events, Bulgarian cultural news, Bulgarian entertainment news, Bulgaria arts and culture, Bulgarian cultural tourism, Bulgarian historical sites, Bulgarian landmarks.
BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-10-02 16:37:16
