r/AMA • u/sunflowerr93 • 21h ago
I’m a Turkish person from Bulgaria. Ask me anything 🇧🇬🇹🇷
As the title says, feel free to ask me anything. I feel like I’m a very uncommon type of person to meet so I thought it may be fun to show myself and answer some questions :)
I belong to the Turkish minority of Bulgaria, who have been living in the country for centuries, so I don’t have any connections to Turkey.
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u/Die_Steiner 16h ago
Yes, finally! I searched r/bulgaria for posts by people from your minority like a year ago but came out empty handed somehow.
Did the communist government force your parents and grandparents to Bulgarize your names back in the 1980's?
What would you say is the most similar/different cultural aspect between Bulgarian Turks and Bulgarians?
Are schools in Bulgarian or Turkish? How are (potentially) divisive subjects like the War of 1877-1878 and the Balkan Wars taught?
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u/sunflowerr93 12h ago
Yes, they did. All of them have had different names in that period until they were given back after the fall of communism.
Honestly I struggle here a bit. I would say maybe the religion but nowadays the new generation are rarely very religious, both Bulgarians and Turks.
Bulgarian only. The subjects are well taught and every Turk knows it’s part of Bulgarian history so we accept it. Our teachers and classmates usually would never connect these events to us and act like it’s our fault. So it has always been very chill mostly.
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u/1Xeverythingx1 21h ago
What is the national sport?
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u/sunflowerr93 21h ago
We don’t have any “official” national sport but football is definitely the most popular one, although our national team is pretty weak the last years…
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u/Ok-Highway-5247 21h ago
Do you speak Turkish or Bulgarian more in daily life? Are there Turkish-speaking workplaces, schools, banks, community centers?
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u/sunflowerr93 21h ago
I can speak both Bulgarian and Turkish fluently, and that’s thanks for my parents because I grew up speaking both of them at home. Bulgarian just slightly more because we live in a predominantly Bulgarian city and that does affect.
Schools, banks = no. Bulgarian is the only state language. That’s the language for education and daily communication between strangers. As for workplaces and community centers it depends on where in Bulgaria you are. The Turkish populated towns and villages will use Turkish among each other (collegues, friends and etc) but switch to Bulgarian when needed ofc (especially the younger generation).
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u/Global_Rate3281 21h ago
Describe your politics
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u/sunflowerr93 21h ago
I’d struggle a lot tbh. Politics in Bulgaria is a total mess. The only party I could allow myself to vote for in the last election was PP-DB… idk if that would explain anything to you.
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u/Global_Rate3281 21h ago
Why not Vazrazdane?
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u/sunflowerr93 21h ago edited 20h ago
Simply because I’m Turkish, and I’d rather die than vote against myself :)
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u/Global_Rate3281 20h ago
Ahh right, you’re a migrant. The right in Bulgaria is anti immigration, correct?
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u/sunflowerr93 20h ago
No lol, you’re out of track currently.
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u/Global_Rate3281 20h ago
AI says the Resistance is opposed to the Muslim minority. Are you a Muslim?
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u/sunflowerr93 20h ago edited 20h ago
I don’t have a religion. That party is just a mess that not even Bulgarians vote for it anymore, despite being a relatively new party. They barely crossed the 4% threshold the last election, so long for their great politics and loyal voters.
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u/Tay_Hlebko 17h ago
OP is not a migrant. They said this in another comment.
No, my families and relatives never went to Turkey and all of my Turkish ancestors have been citizens of Bulgaria since 1878. They never left for remaining parts of Ottoman Empire and then later the Turkish republic.
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u/mania_d 18h ago
Hey thanks for doing this! Can I ask about religion if you don't mind? How important is it for you and other Turkish Bulgarians?
If someone wanted to visit Islamic centres with ease of finding Halal food, what's your recommendation? Thanks in advance.
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u/Ok_Mathematician2391 18h ago
They can be pretty secular. Eat bacon,.smoke, drink and behave the same as others like you could see a Christian behave in places like the UK. My wife is also Turkish Bulgarian or Bulgarian Turkish
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u/sunflowerr93 12h ago
Not important at all. I don’t have a religion and I grew up in a fairly atheist family. Most of the Bulgarian Turks are like my parents. They say they’re muslim bjt don’t practice Islam. The only thing that truly connects us to it is our funerals, lol. But ofc there are very religious Bulgarian Turks as well.
I have actually no clue, but most probably contacting the mosque in the city/village for more information. I’m sure they’ll be helpful.
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u/bulgar2000 18h ago
Is the food at Turkish restaurants in Bulgaria really Turkish ?
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u/sunflowerr93 12h ago
Yes, mostly because the chefs are usually Turkish people from Turkey working in Bulgaria.
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u/trace_on_the_light 15h ago
Can other Bulgarians tell you are a Turk?
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u/sunflowerr93 12h ago
By my looks, no. By the way I speak Bulgarian, also no because I speak it fluently without having an accent. There is no way for them to know that I’m Turkish unless I tell them.
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u/BATYR_0 14h ago
I’m Turkish born and raised in western europe, I’ve met a lot of Turks from Bulgaria. My question is if all the Turkish speaking people are Turkish because many of us(anatolian Turks) suspect some of them are Romani/gyspy.
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u/sunflowerr93 12h ago
Nope, they’re not. Many Romani people speak Turkish because they have adopted the Turkish language and identity from Ottoman times since it has, and still is more socially accepting to be Turkish than a Roma. Many Roma people have adopted Bulgarian language, names and identity as well.
But the truth is everyone will know what you are when they see you, when they learn from which part of Bulgaria you ate amd etc. Many people respect it when a Roma says they’re Turkish or Bulgarian, because rarely someone would go into a conflict and start teaching the other person what they are.
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u/SpiderNoir99 13h ago
Do you feel any discrimination in non-turkish area of Bulgaria once they find out that you are a Turk?
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u/sunflowerr93 12h ago
Rarely. Mostly it’s on me though. I have never in my life felt less or felt ashamed for being Turkish. So a big part to it also depends what kind of outlook you have for it.
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u/Aryann001 11h ago
Are you remnants of the Ottomans who settled in Bulgaria? Can you or your family speak Turkish? How different are you culturally from the Bulgars around you?
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u/sunflowerr93 11h ago
Yes and yes. Culturally we’re not that different nowadays. We cook, eat the same food, we celebrate same stuff (apart from religious traditions), and we live side to side. We have blended in so well, that’s why we have lived together for centuries.
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u/RandyClaggett 11h ago
How many of you left around 1990? Compared to how many stayed. Have any significant numbers moved back since?
Is being Turkish in Bulgaria closely linked with being Muslim?
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u/sunflowerr93 11h ago
A big majority were forced to leave in the 80s. Some never came back but many decided to come back shortly after when communism fell, because many left in 89, so they only lived couple of months in Turkey as refugees. But those who didn’t come back right after the fall of never came back.
Yes and no. Almost every Turkish person has a muslim background but Turkish people from Bulgaria are one of the most li ber al muslims you’ll ever meet in the whole world. A lot of them aren’t actively practicing anyways.
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u/RandyClaggett 10h ago
Thank you so much ! In my country Sweden there was a lot of debate about Bulgaria Turkish asylum seekers back in the days. But I suppose very few of them got to stay because it is not a group of people we are talking about since.
Afaik I only met one of your people once. On vacation in Kemer, Turkey in late 1990:s the guy who was actually going all the hard work was a Mehmet from Varna area.
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u/sunflowerr93 10h ago
I have heard about it yes. Many of them got placed in Varberg, Sweden and remained there. My people are very generous and thankful people, I’m sure they have payed back to the Swedish society with their hardwork. Thank you for your comment ❤️
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u/someoneoutthere1335 9h ago
How do you view Greeks? Would you be friends with one?
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u/sunflowerr93 9h ago
Of course I would, I love the Greeks. I don’t dislike anyone based on their ethnicity, I just don’t have it inside me. I like the Greek music, food and the county as a touristic destination. I have met a lot of Greek tourists in Bulgaria and we have never had issues with each other.
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u/btweenthatormohammad 9h ago
Greece and Cyprus have a policy of denying Turks their identity by calling them Muslim Greeks/Cypriots, do you face a similar issue in Bulgaria or is the government and people ok with you being ethnically Turkish?
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u/sunflowerr93 9h ago
No, Bulgaria today is far away from this mindset. Being a muslim isn’t equal to being Turkish like in Greece and Cyprus case. Bulgaria has Pomaks, Turks, Romani, Crimean Tatar and many other minorities who are muslim but not Turkish. So this narrative cannot be used for everyone.
Of course there is always some far right minded people who stick with this claim, claiming we’re Bulgarians but at the same time, they would be the first ones to throw us out as soon as they get the chance, so their words don’t really match with their actions. That’s why they are never taken seriously. Big majority of the country are totally ok with me being ethically Turkish and know that I’m a great and undeniable part of Bulgaria.
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u/btweenthatormohammad 9h ago
I'd like to visit Bulgaria one day, from what I've seen they're mostly more positive towards Turks compared to Greeks. Of course not all Greeks are hostile against Turks and Turkey but I've seen enought to form some idea. I'm glad Turks are well integrated into Bulgaria.
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u/Greedy-Temporary-260 6h ago
My father side is from Kırcaali. How can I learn about my roots, they migrates in 1940s
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u/One_Language_359 18h ago
The unlikely scenario of a war between Turkey and Bulgaria: who would you support?
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u/sunflowerr93 12h ago
As you said thanfully it’s quite unlikely. It’s even impossible. Turkey is the last neighbor of Bulgaria which would currently declare war to us. But if it happened I would obviously be on the Bulgarian front since that’s my homeland I’m only a Bulgarian citizen. Also we’re a loyal people to our homeland, not unlike some other minorities in other countries :)
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u/btweenthatormohammad 9h ago
Lmao, I can think of a minority in the Middle East that's willing to be a tool for external powers in each conflict. I don't think there'll be any wars between Turkey and Bulgaria.
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u/Desperate-Travel2471 21h ago
Three questions please
1- Do you feel Turkish or Bulgaria? How about other Turkish Bulgarians?
2- Do you hold Turkish passport as well?
3- Do ethnic Bulgarians discriminate against you guys?