GYPSIES – ROMA IN BULGARIA PROFESSING ISLAM – ETHNIC IDENTITY
Corresponding author:
[email protected]
Accepted
29 March 2026
Available Online
15 March 2019
Abstract
GYPSIES/ROMA IN BULGARIA WHO PROFESS ISLAM HAVE HETEROGENEOUS ETHNIC AND GROUP IDENTITY. IN THE YEARS AFTER SEPTEMBER 1944 TO 1990 (THE TIME OF THE SO-CALLED SOCIALISM IN BULGARIA) AMONG MANY OF THEM THERE IS A STRIVING FOR SELF -DETERMINATION WITH A TURKISH IDENTITY, AT THE SAME TIME THE STATE POLICY IS TO PRESERVE THEIR GYPSY IDENTITY, AND SUBSEQUENTLY-TO ASSIMILATION. DEMOCRATIC CHANGES IN BULGARIAN SOCIETY AFTER 1990 LEAD TO THE OPENING OF BORDERS AND FREE MOVEMENT, ACCESSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION. IN T HIS CONTEXT, A PART OF THE UNEMPLOYED ROMA (GYPSY) COMMUNITY MIGRATES IN SEARCH OF WORK FROM VILLAGES AND TOWNS TO THE CAPITAL AND SOME OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, OTHERS EMIGRATE AND SETTLE IN DIFFERENT EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, THIRD AND MARGINALIZED I N THEIR TRADITIONAL HABITATS. DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN PROCESSES OF REISLAMISATION OR ISLAMIZATION IN THE ROMA, WHO PROFESS ISLAM. REISLAMIZATION IS PRESENTED AS A RETURN TO TRADITION, BUT IN FACT IT IS A VISIBILITY OF THE PROCESS. THE COMBINATION OF LACK OF EDUCATION, NON -INTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY, SOCIAL EXCLUSION, MARGINALIZATION, ACCOMPANIED BY ATTEMPTS TO PERSISTENTLY IMPOSE CONSERVATIVE RELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDINGS AND PRACTICES, CREATES PREREQUISITES FOR RADICALIZATION IN INDIVIDUAL POPULATED SOME GROUPS.
Keywords
MUSLIM ROMA
ISLAM
ETHNIC IDENTITY
RE-ISLAMIZATION.
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