Scenography and Dramaturgy of Violence. The Communist Regime and the Denial of the Assimilation of Muslims in Bulgaria

The article examines the process of forced assimilation of Pomacs and Turks in the 1970s-80s and the denial of the violence by the communist regime in Bulgaria. Three cases have been presented in which the regime uses the same prepared individuals and prepared situations aimed at deceiving the global public about the violent Bulgarisation and persecution of the religious beliefs of Muslims. The preparation for the reception of external guests is carried out according to the rules of theatrical production, with its dramaturgy and stage design. The execution in all three cases was accompanied by confusing situations and failures, ultimately failing to deceive the participants. The three cases were provoked by publications in the world press about these events. The first was a visit by Moammar Gaddafi with a delegation to Bulgaria in 1978, the second was a visit by the The Arab Conference Contact Group in 1987 and the third was the making of a film about Muslims in Bulgaria by the German communist journalist of Turkish origin Kamil Taylan in 1986.