Cases of contemporary re-Islamization among Roma in Bulgaria

Bibliographic Data

ID12757348
AuthorsYelis Erolova (0000-0002-3578-9852, Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume31
Issue2
Pages211-230
Publication date2021-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueRomani Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1528-0748 • E-ISSN: 1757-2274
PublisherLiverpool University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.3828/rs.2021.11
OpenAlexW4200034288
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited7

Since the beginning of the 1990s, various religious processes can be observed among the Roma community and other ethnic minorities in Bulgaria. In parallel with the conversion of Orthodox Christian and Sunni Muslim Roma to evangelical Christianity, processes of re-Islamization have also been taking place. Based on a series of legislative and judicial decisions taken by local and state institutions, cases of re-Islamization have been presented to the public as examples of the spread of radical Islam, a trend that could lead to ethnic conflicts and to the perception that the Roma are a threat to national security. Contrary to this already popular notion, the results of my ethnological study (2018-2020) among various local Roma Islamic groups in Southern Bulgaria led to a different conclusion. This paper draws attention to small groups of newly converted Turkish-speaking Roma and focuses on the emic perspective of the members of the studied groups regarding the interpretation of the new religious ideas they more or less adhere to

Archaeology · Islam · Islamization · History · Jewish Identity and Society · Religion and Society Interactions · Romani and Gypsy Studies

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