Razgrad Incidents

The Razgrad Incidents refer to a series of events triggered by an attack on the Turkish cemetery in the Bulgarian town of Razgrad in 1933 and the reactions it provoked in Türkiye. This incident, an example of repression against the Turkish minority in Bulgaria, holds significant importance in the context of Turkish-Bulgarian relations and nationalist youth movements in Türkiye. The attack occurred on the night of 14–15 April 1933, when approximately 200 extremist Bulgarian members of the nationalist organization Rodna Zaştita (Defenders of the Homeland) organized a coordinated assault on the Turkish cemetery in Razgrad. This act sparked widespread outrage in Türkiye, particularly among the youth, and led to protest demonstrations under the leadership of the National Turkish Student Union (MTTB).

Razgrad Incidents (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)

Development of the Incident

The Razgrad incident began on the night of 14–15 April 1933, which coincided with Good Friday, the Christian observance of the death of Jesus Christ. Approximately 200 extremist Bulgarians affiliated with Rodna Zaştita, acting according to a premeditated plan, set fire to the cemetery guard’s hut, cut through the fence to enter the cemetery, smashed tombstones, destroyed graves, and exhumed human remains. The attackers used picks, shovels, and axes to damage the cemetery, and a truck was also reportedly used in the destruction.

The local Bulgarian press acknowledged the severity of the incident, but the Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs claimed that the attack was not directed against the Turkish minority, asserting instead that some youths had acted “thoughtlessly” in response to Turkish resistance to a municipal decision to expropriate the cemetery land for use as a park.

The Turkish population in Bulgaria responded to the attack by sending telegrams to official authorities in Sofia. However, the swift release of the arrested Bulgarians and subsequent public demonstrations by the local Bulgarian population in support of these releases further heightened the gravity of the incident.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Gospodin Mushanov defended the position that the attack was not an assault on religious sentiments and stated that orders had been issued for the perpetrators to be handed over to the judiciary. However, the Turkish press found Mushanov’s statements contradictory and criticized him for ignoring the broader pattern of repression against the Turkish minority. In his article titled “What Does This Mean?” published in the newspaper Cumhuriyet, Peyami Safa accused the Bulgarian government of attempting to cover up the incident and falsely accusing Turkish media of falsehood.

Razgrad Incidents (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)

Reactions in Türkiye

The Razgrad incident provoked a strong reaction in Türkiye, especially among the youth. The National Turkish Student Union (MTTB) organized a rally in Istanbul on 20 April 1933 to protest the attack. The government, concerned about damaging Turkish-Bulgarian relations, did not encourage such actions. Cevdet Kerim, the CHP representative in Istanbul, warned MTTB leaders that the rally could have political consequences. Nevertheless, determined to act independently, the MTTB organized a demonstration attended by approximately 3,000 to 4,000 people. The protest began at 16:30 in front of the Bulgarian Consulate in Maçka, with students from Şişli Terakki and Feyziye High Schools and other institutions joining the demonstration.

Under the leadership of MTTB General President Tevfik İleri, the youths attempted to enter the Bulgarian Consulate but were blocked by police. İleri, speaking from the roof of a car, declared that their purpose was to make the world understand the significance of the incident and the response of Turkish youth. The demonstrators then marched to the Turkish cemetery in Razgrad and placed wreaths there, aiming to demonstrate the Turkish people’s “noble and dignified” stance.

Clashes occurred between demonstrators and security forces, resulting in the arrest of approximately 80 students, 23 of whom were detained. However, six days later, all students were released, taking advantage of a general amnesty.

The Turkish press covered the incident extensively and assumed the responsibility of informing public opinion. Newspapers such as Cumhuriyet, Milliyet, Vakit, Hâkimiyeti Milliye, and Son Posta featured the incident on their front pages and condemned the attack on the Turkish minority. However, due to government concerns over foreign policy, the press criticized the form of the youths’ actions, though such criticism generally remained at the level of mere admonition.

Context and Consequences

The Razgrad incident occurred as part of a broader pattern of systematic repression against the Turkish minority in Bulgaria during the 1930s. From the late 1920s onward, extremist nationalist organizations such as Rodna Zaştita and the Trakya Komitası pursued policies aimed at assimilating and forcing the Turkish population to emigrate through methods including assassinations of Turkish community leaders, closure of Turkish schools, and restrictions on cultural rights. Between 1923 and 1933, approximately 101,507 Turks migrated from Bulgaria to Türkiye. With the establishment of a fascist dictatorship in Bulgaria in 1934, these repressive measures intensified, and the number of Turkish schools declined rapidly. ^【1】 

The incident took place during a sensitive period in Turkish-Bulgarian relations. While Türkiye was making intense diplomatic efforts to include Bulgaria in the Balkan Entente, Bulgaria’s revisionist policies and repression of the Turkish minority complicated these efforts.

The Razgrad incident strengthened nationalist sentiments in Türkiye and reinforced among the youth, particularly, the mission of defending the values of the Republic. The protests led by the MTTB reflected the youth’s perception of themselves as guardians of the Republic.

Among the consequences of the incident were increased awareness in Turkish public opinion regarding the plight of the Turkish minority in Bulgaria and the further organizational consolidation of youth movements along nationalist lines. However, the government, concerned with maintaining its foreign policy balance, took stricter measures against the youths’ actions and sought to prevent large-scale rallies.