Exhibition at the European Parliament highlights the painful memory of Bulgaria’s Turks
An exhibition shedding light on the forced name-change campaign against Muslim Turks in Bulgaria during the 1970s and 1980s was inaugurated at the European Parliament (EP), hosted by MEP Ilhan Küçük of Bulgaria from the Renew Europe group.
Titled “Name, Identity, and Memory: 40 Years Since the Final Phase of the Forced Name Changes of Muslim Turks in Bulgaria,” the exhibition drew considerable interest from parliamentarians, diplomats, and civil society members.
The event featured a striking photo display that captured the trauma endured by Bulgaria’s Muslim Turkish minority under the assimilation policies of the communist regime, which sought to erase their ethnic and religious identities through compulsory name changes.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), MEP Küçük—a member of Bulgaria’s Turkish minority—explained the importance of remembering this dark chapter:
“We wanted to recount our experiences and hard times at the European Parliament and make a call to European public opinion. These events must not be forgotten; they must be passed on to future generations. At the same time, we must consider what we can achieve together today as European Turks.”
The exhibition marks the 40th anniversary of the culmination of this policy, which affected hundreds of thousands of Turks in Bulgaria and remains a deeply painful chapter in the collective memory of the community.
The event served as both a commemoration and a reminder of the importance of protecting minority rights, fostering cultural memory, and promoting inclusion across Europe.
