Sofia, 14/11/2000 - Below is the full text of the address, adopted at the conference of religious and human rights activists organized by the Tolerance Foundation on October 20 in Sofia.

Sofia, October 20, 2000

We, leaders and activists of religious communities and of human rights organizations, gathered at a conference on October 20 2000 in Sofia, after as discussed the consolidated draft Denominations Act, pending for second reading by the National Assembly, state the following:

The draft, despite the fact that that it is a little better than the previous three, repeats most of their great shortcomings. These shortcomings were criticized on many times and especially in the Appeal of 41 representatives of religious organizations from July 8, 1999, in the Declaration from October 11, 1999, as well as in the Address of 19 representatives of human rights and religious organizations from February 8, 2000. Unfortunately, our voice was not heard. Thus, now we again see the same shortcomings.

The transformation of the present draft into an acting law will create a possibility for very serious violations of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief in Bulgaria. It discriminates both religious people in Bulgaria and their organizations. Unfortunately, in some respects this draft is worse even than the present law, that, as it is well known, was adopted in 1949, in the beginning of the Communist period. That is why we call on the members of the Parliament:

• Not to allow the approval of the draft Denominations Act in its present form. In our opinion, it has to be either generally revised or a new Denominations Act has to be prepared;
• To take into account the critical notes of the religious organizations, that have been repeatedly expressed;
• Not to allow for the name of Bulgaria as a tolerant and respecting the human rights country to be wounded by the adoption of a repressive and discriminatory Denominations Act.

We hope that this time the members of parliament will hear our voice.

Until now, the Appeal has been signed by representatives of the following religious and human rights organizations:

1. The Methodist Church in Bulgaria
2. The Pentecostal Church in Bulgaria
3. The Baptist Church in Bulgaria
4. The Bulgarian Church of God
5. The Congressional Church in Bulgaria
6. The Bulgarian United Church of God
7. The Union of the Adventist Churches in Bulgaria
8. The Bulgarian Society for Krishna Consciousness
9. The Unification Church in Bulgaria
10. The Tolerance Foundation
11. The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
12. The Bulgarian Society for Protection and Encouragement of the Religious Freedom

The process of signing is going on.

* The TOLERANCE FOUNDATION is a human rights group monitoring the freedom of conscience and the religious freedom practices in Bulgaria, providing legal assistance to victims of discrimination based on religion, as well as propagating the idea of tolerance towards religious and other convictions.

The group was founded in 1994. Mr. Emil Cohen is President of the Tolerance Foundation.
Address: 1000 Sofia, 163A "Rakovsky" St., phone/fax: (+359 2) 981 23 57
Phone: (+359 2) 988 31 36
E-mail: toleranc@geobiz.com