Demonstration in support of Palestine banned in Bulgaria
In a written statement issued by the Public Prosecutor's Office, local authorities and the Ministry of Interior were asked "not to allow mass events that invite violence and may cause radical actions, justify terrorist acts and war crimes".
The public prosecutor's office said that "radical religious and ethnic-based calls have been spreading on social media" and that it would therefore take uncompromising measures to ensure public order and protect the rights and freedoms of citizens.
Following the prosecutor's warning, Mayor Fandykova announced that the planned demonstration in support of Palestine in the capital Sofia would not be allowed.
In a written message, Shalom, the organisation of the Jewish diaspora in Bulgaria, thanked the prosecutor's office and the Sofia Municipality authorities and said: "Sofia, which stands against hate and discrimination, has stood alongside Berlin, Paris, London and other capitals in standing against hate speech, radicalisation and discrimination."
A march was planned in the city centre as part of a demonstration in support of Palestine organised on social media on behalf of the "Committee for the Defence of Jerusalem".
