(Jewish Group) Bulgaria: Concerns over a spike in antisemitic incidents
After a series of antisemitic incidents in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, Jewish community leaders say a line has been crossed. DW takes a look at what is behind these incidents.A six-pointed star and the word "Jude" (German for "Jew" ) were daubed on the front of the Cosmic Craft Beer store in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, two weeks ago in an act of antisemitic vandalism reminiscent of the way Nazis marked Jewish shopfronts in Nazi Germany. A few days later, a swastika was painted on the window of another storefront.
In mid June, the screening of the movie "Close" at the Sofia Pride Film Fest was interrupted by supporters of the pro-Russian nationalist Vazrazhdane (Revival) party who claimed that the movie was "pedophilia propaganda."
Before the vandalism of the Cosmic Craft Beer store, members of the same party had argued with staff there. The alleged reason for the confrontation was that the Vazrazhdane supporters had demanded that the owners of the store replace the flag of English football club Chelsea in its window with the Bulgarian flag.
After the incident, the store's owners put up a sign that read "We don't serve 'Vazrazhdane' supporters," which quickly went viral on social media. The shop was subsequently bombarded with bad online reviews and inundated by Vazrazhdane supporters -- including a member of parliament -- demanding to be served.
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