This is so interesting, I wish I had time to really get into the history of Bulgaria and how it threw off Ottoman (Muslim) rule in the Russo-Turkish war for the liberation of Bulgaria in 1877-78.
Are the Turks once again moving in on their Christian neighbors and using Syrian refugees as the invading army?
I think so!
Here is the news story (yesterday) from Novinite (Sofia) that prompts my inquiry (emphasis and links added are mine):
About 200 people have blockaded Sunday the Shipka Pass in the Stara Planina Range in central Bulgaria in protest against opening a new refugee shelter in the town of Kazanlak.
The rally comes on the heels of news that the Bulgarian government plans to transform the unused building the police school into a refugee camp.
Last evening, an initiative committee was formed in the town with the participation of heads of large local enterprises, representatives of business, politicians from the municipality, NGOs and youth organizations to support the declaration of the local government, opposing the opening of the shelter.
The committee has decided to start a petition for a local referendum on the preservation of the school building as is and against making it a refugee camp. The second decision was to stage protest rallies and blockades of the Shipka Pass Sunday and Monday until the end of the emergency sitting of the central government.
Locals say they have nothing against the refugees and understand their plight, but stress the shelter will be detrimental to the beautiful nearby town park and will threaten national security as Arsenal Kazanlak, one of the largest military plants and weapons producers in Bulgaria, is located in the town.
[….]
Bulgaria is the gateway to the European Union for refugees fleeing Syria via Turkey, many crossing the border illegally to seek asylum.
Readers, it is up to Turkey to stop Syrians at their border (just like it’s up to Mexico to stop Central Americans from crossing into Mexico!). Turkey is obviously permitting the Syrians to move across Turkey and into Bulgaria. President Erdogan (Obama’s pal) is capable of stopping the flow into Bulgaria if he chose to!
For further reading, I see that Andrew Bostom has references to Bulgaria in his history of Jihad: The Legacy of Jihad, Islamic Holy War and the Fate of Non-Muslims. Will let you know later what I find.
We have been writing about Bulgaria and Syrians (click here) in recent weeks. I think the BBC needs to update its migration map—add in the Turkey to Bulgaria leg!