Bulgarian resident calls for education to tackle racism and reveals black woman stabbed five years ago Friday, September 01, 2006 6169 Reads Discuss 4 Comments 4 Prints 4 Sent

Deborah Gabriel

Ghanaian woman stabbed in Bulgarian capital five years ago Albena Haralampieva Racism can only be overcome through education, in addition to social equality. It is a shame that nobody reacted when this guy insulted Aisha. People don’t care. Following our news story last week on the racial hostility and abuse suffered by Aisha Bingham whilst on holiday in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Albena Haralampieva has revealed that racism against black people has led to violence in the past and suggests that better education can lead to the acceptance of diversity in society. Albena Haralampieva who is 35, lives in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital and as a professional interpreter comes into contact with people of African descent regularly as well as having friends of different races. But when she read in the Bulgarian newspaper 24 Hours what was effectively a reprint of our Black Britain news story she reacted strongly. Contacting Black Britain Haralampieva said: “I am ashamed that such a thing happens in my country but I want to say that this is not an exception.” She explained that around five years ago a Ghanaian woman living in Bulgaria was stabbed in the capital Sofia while walking down the street with a friend: “It was not provoked by anything, it was a sudden attack and it was evident that the guys were skinheads,” she said. She also told Black Britain that a friend of hers came to Bulgaria from Trinidad with his wife who is Bulgarian and was beaten up, also in Sofia, to the extent that he was too self-conscious about his bruised and swollen face to leave the house. Haralampieva shared her concern that whilst holidaymakers are being lured to Bulgaria, residents have not been sensitised about how to behave towards foreign visitors to their country: “I’m ashamed about the fact that Bulgarians boast about having these wonderful resorts and how we want to join the European Union and be more European and for Europeans to come and spend their money here. But at the same time we don’t educate people here as to how they are expected to behave.” She said that it is important that in seeking to join the EU and be part of a union that this would necessitate understanding and respecting diversity : “Racism can only be overcome through education, in addition to social equality. It is a shame that nobody reacted when this guy insulted Aisha. People don’t care.” Haralampieva recommended open discussions and forums for individuals to examine why they harbour prejudice or hostility towards black people, which may help to identify and expose that there is no logical reason for the hatred. She told Black Britain that the behaviour of the man who verbally abused Bingham was “inhumane, especially towards foreigners who don’t know your culture. You are supposed to be open to their differences.” When asked to comment about whether Roma gypsies were targets for racial discrimination, Haralampieva said: “Yes, for sure. Gypsies are the biggest minority in Bulgaria and they are discriminated against. It is because they are different. The government needs to take additional measures, but ordinary people discriminate against the gypsies.”

Bulgaria racism must be dealt with, says Bingham The Black Britain News Story as it appeared in the Bulgarian newspaper 24 Hours It needs someone to speak out. Most of the time when these incidents happen you don’t hear anything about it and it’s just forgotten. But this is an issue that needs to be dealt with... Aisha Bingham In particular, Haralampieva said that discrimination against the Roma gypsies manifests itself in terms of lack of job opportunities and claimed that if a Bulgarian and Roma gypsy went for the same job, even if the Roma gypsy was better qualified the job would definitely go to the Bulgarian. She conceded that there have been programmes for the Roma Gypsies aimed at improving equality: “But it is still for society to be more open,” she said. In terms of racism towards black people, Haralampieva, who is a professional translator, told Black Britain: “Sometimes I see that people do not react to them in a very positive way. Sometimes when I go with black people to remote villages people react in a negative way, probably because they haven’t really seen black people, but I would say there is racism. We cannot say that Bulgarians are not racist.” Haralampieva offered an explanation as to why Bulgarians are so hostile towards black people: “People that are of darker skin here face opposition because of our history. We were 500 years under Ottoman occupation by the Turks until the 1870s. Because of the Turks being of darker skin, somehow they are associated in our conscience with the Arab world with Muslims and everything that is darker.” Meanwhile Black Britain caught up with Aisha Bingham yesterday as she made her way to the airport for her return flight to the UK. After her experience she spent most of the time in her villa, afraid to go out. But after receiving support from family and friends in the UK, she had a change of heart. She said: “I decided not to become a prisoner, to stand firm and go out and enjoy the rest of my holiday. I wasn’t going to let a few ignorant people take over my whole holiday and my enjoyment,” she said. But Bingham and her siblings still remained cautious, confining themselves to open areas, not staying out late, returning back in the early afternoon; although she did manage to do some shopping. She told Black Britain: “I tried to make the best of a bad situation.” When Black Britain told Bingham about the other racist incidents involving violence she said she felt vindicated, especially as the British Embassy had suggested that her experience was an isolated incident: “Now I know that not only is that untrue, but it is actually an issue that needs to be tackled.” Bingham told Black Britain that she was encouraged by the strong support of Euro MP Sarah Ludford, who demanded a full investigation. Commenting on why she came forward with her story, she said: “It needs someone to speak out. Most of the time when these incidents happen you don’t hear anything about it and it’s just forgotten. But this is an issue that needs to be dealt with and I’m glad that Sarah Ludford made such a strong statement.” Reflecting on her ordeal, she said: “More than anything else I’m glad that everybody’s eyes are now open.” But Bingham won’t be returning to Bulgaria anytime soon: “I don’t think so. They may make wonderful changes but my first experience has not been very nice, so no, I don’t think so.”

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