Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria, Ivan Geshev, opened the STOP HATE SPEECH International Conference today, December 5, 2022, in Sofia. "I am proud that in Bulgaria we are launching a European initiative to combat hate speech," Geshev pointed out.
The Prosecutor General emphasized that after Russia's aggression in Ukraine, it seems that "we do not learn from our history" and therefore it is important to join strength in the fight against anti-democratic trends."In Bulgaria, we have always lived together. A mosque, an Orthodox church, a synagogue and a Catholic cathedral have coexisted peacefully for decades, just meters from here, side by side. And I am sure that we will continue to set our positive example. Bad is easier. It's hard to be good. To be human in inhumane times like those of the Second World War, when the Bulgarian people, the Orthodox Church, representatives of the Bulgarian state saved all their fellow Jews", emphasized the Prosecutor General and called on us to live up to our ancestors and make our contribution in modern times .
The Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Iliana Yotova, also welcomed the participants in the forum. "One of the greatest dangers today is the rewriting and misrepresentation of history, including that the Holocaust never existed. With the lessons of the past, we must move forward in this very dangerous, divided and estranged world. Intolerance to hatred, violence, the return to civilization and tolerance, the frank conversation about what is happening in our societies is our main task," stated Iliana Yotova, She pointed out that the anti-Semitic virus and the virus of hatred is ready to mutate in every social and public crisis. "This mutation is infecting our societies and affecting more and more people. This is a threat not only to Jews and minorities, but a threat to our own societies and democracy," Yotova pointed out.Interim Justice Minister Krum Zarkov pointed out that criminal repression "is undoubtedly an important element in the fight against hate speech, but it is not enough." There is no prejudice to prevent different communities from knowing each other. I hope this forum will contribute to that," said the Minister of Justice."Hate speech and anti-Semitism do not exist where logic lives. They do not exist in happy minds.
They grow in the minds of people who do not love themselves, do not like their place in the world, and want to blame others for the situation in which they find themselves. Hate speech thrives among people who do not love and respect each other. Hate cannot and will not win," said Menachem Margolin, Chairman of the European Jewish Association, to the forum participants.Boyan Magdalinchev, representing the Supreme Judicial Council, stated that every single manifestation of discrimination and intolerance directly contradicts the values on which the EU is based. "The fight against hate speech is anessential element of the rule of law. Hate speech and hate crimes directly attack not only the affected communities, but undermines the foundations of of every democratic society," said Boyan Magdalinchev.Lada Paunova, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of Cassation, welcomed the forum participants on behalf of the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Cassation, Galina Zakharova.
"The international conference gives us an opportunity to publicly remind again that promoting hate speech is unacceptable in our society. No objections to the protection of freedom of speech can be opposed in cases where forms of expression inciting racial hatred, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance are used," stressed Lada Paunova.Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Velislava Petrova, emphasized the great concern with which we observe the increase of cases of hatred worldwide. "History is replete with instances of hate speech becoming a criminal offense.
If hate speech is not taken into consideration in time and in a sufficiently adequate manner, it will continue," said Velislava Petrova.On behalf of His Holiness Neophyte, Bulgarian patriarch and metropolitan bishop of Sofia, His Еminence Bishop Polycarp of Belogradchiк, Vicar of the Metropolitan of Sofia, extended a welcome to forum participants."Throughout its history, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has repeatedly testified its rejection of all forms of hate speech and all acts during the transition from totalitarian to democratic period of our dear homeland Bulgaria, based on xenophobic, anti-Semitic or discriminatory motives", Bishop Polycarp. He emphasized that the organization of such meetings, such as this forum, is "not only important, but also of urgent importance".
Over 130 participants take part in the international conference organized by the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Jewish Organization - general and supreme prosecutors from countries of the European Union and the region, senior clergymen from different religious, representatives of state institutions, NGOs, academics, human rights defenders and civil activists, etc.The main objective of the conference is to create a platform for the exchange of experience and good practices, that will help to effectively and timely counter xenophobic, anti-Semitic and discriminatory acts, as well as to the incitement and commitment of hate crimes.