site.bta Anti-discrimination Watchdog, US Embassy Organize Seminar on Religious Freedom Protection

Anti-discrimination Watchdog, US Embassy Organize Seminar on Religious Freedom Protection

Sofia, March 14 (BTA) - The Commission for Protection against Discrimination (CPD) and the US Embassy in Bulgaria organized here on Tuesday a seminar on the protection of religious freedom and the fight against religious-based discrimination.

"It is important not to allow the critical security challenges that we face to lead to intolerance, an erosion of the fundamental rights of citizens to worship freely, to speak freely, to be free citizens of the democracy," said US Ambassador to Bulgaria Eric Rubin, who opened the seminar.

According to the US diplomat, it is critical that a balance is found between the very real need for security and ensuring that key, fundamental liberties are not violated.

Ambassador Rubin pointed out Bulgaria's historic rescue of the Jews in the Holocaust, adding that this should be a beacon and something that all Bulgarians can look to as a point of pride, but also as a symbol of what the ideals of this society are for the future.

He noted during the seminar that Bulgaria, being at a crossroad, both benefits and suffers from its geographic location. The Ambassador said that everything possible should be done to avoid having "our societies fall victim to hate rhetoric and hate preachers, despite the challenges and difficulties we are facing".

CPD head Ana Djoumalieva noted that tolerance is more important than ever in today's world.

According to her, a revival of religious values and beliefs is observed on a global scale in recent years.

She noted that an activation of religious attitudes among certain religious communities in Bulgaria has been observed in the first decade of the 21st century. The anti-discrimination legislation plays an indispensable role in the protection of everyone's equality, in the observation of their human rights and against the religious division of society, the CPD chief said.