ECLJ Pleads for Religious Freedom in Bulgaria at the European Parliament

(Brussels, Belgium) - The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), which is representing the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, said today it is hopeful that the European Parliament in Brussels will act to bring an end to the troubling intervention and discrimination aimed at the church by the Bulgarian government since the fall of communism.

The ECLJ filed a petition in 2007 with the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament urging international protection for the church.  ECLJ representative Grgor Puppinck accompanied Bishop George Gervasy, who provided the Committee with strong and moving testimony yesterday focusing on the ongoing struggle and suffering of the Orthodox clergy as well as the problems facing the people of Bulgaria.  The Committee indicated that the European Parliament takes this case very seriously and is expected to address the situation in the coming days.

The ECLJ petition, which is available here, denounces multiple and grave violations of human rights at the hands of the Bulgarian government aimed at the "anti-communist" section of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (the "Holy Synod").   In July 2004, the government, based on the Bulgarian Law on Religion, known as the "Confessions Act 2002", took possession of all church properties of the Holy Synod: 107 properties - including churches, monasteries, and other church-related buildings.  During the seizures, police at times forcefully removed clergy and laypeople by dragging them out of the buildings, causing injuries.  The clergy who lived in the properties were left homeless with no possessions.  All documentation relating to property deeds and work contracts for the clergy were confiscated by the government.  Since 2004, Holy Synod clergy have been barred from receiving unemployment benefits and health care.  Some church members were also criminally charged and were forced to surrender their passports.

In its representation of the Holy Synod, the ECLJ is working to secure protection for the church on an international level working with the Holy Synod in the filing of the petition with the European Parliament and filing an application with the European Court of Human Rights.

As part of this international effort, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France has expressed its concern over the Bulgarian Law on Religion, known as the "Confessions Act 2002" in a resolution adopted in 2004.

The ECLJ continues to monitor developments in this critical case.

The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) is an international law firm focusing on the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Europe and worldwide.  The ECLJ is affiliated with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) which focuses on protecting religious freedom in the United States. Attorneys for the ECLJ have served as counsel in numerous cases before the European Court of Human Rights.  Additionally, the ECLJ has special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations, and is accredited to the European Parliament.