scope of corporal punishments that amount or could amount to torture (including death by stoning - see above). A wide range of offences including theft Republic of Bulgaria were punishable by whipping or amputation. Head of state: Judicial caning remained a common Head of government: (replaced punishment for crimes including possession Georgi Bliznashki in November) of drugs and immigration offences. At least three caning sentences were known to have been carried out in 2014. Under existing law, The reception conditions for asylum-seekers children could be sentenced to whipping; entering Bulgaria partially improved but under the revised Penal Code children could concerns remained over access to Bulgarian also be sentenced to amputations. The Penal territory and the integration of refugees. Code also introduced laws discriminating Prevention and investigation of hate crimes against women, including punishing abortion by the authorities was inadequate. with public flogging. BACKGROUND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION In July, the government coalition headed Journalists continued to be censored. In by the Bulgarian Socialist Party resigned February, the Sultan ordered a halt to following heavy losses in the European criticism of the new Penal Code. Parliament elections. Its year in power had been plagued by protests against government FREEDOM OF RELIGION corruption and backroom dealing sparked The Constitution protects non-Muslims’ by the controversial appointment of Delyan right to practise their religion, but laws and Peevski, a prominent media mogul and MP, policies restricted this right for Muslims and as head of the Bulgarian Security Agency. non-Muslims alike. The revised Penal Code New parliamentary elections were set for criminalized exposing Muslim children to the October 2014, less than 18 months after the beliefs and practices of any religion other previous round, which was also prompted by than Islam. the resignation of the government. Following the elections, a new government under Prime COUNTER-TERROR AND SECURITY Minister Boyko Borisov from the GERB party The Internal Security Act (ISA) permitted was appointed in November. detention without trial for indefinitely renewable two-year periods, and was used REFUGEES AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS to detain anti-government activists. An In August 2013, Bulgaria experienced a large Indonesian detained without trial under the increase in the number of refugees, asylum- ISA since February was initially refused visits seekers and migrants entering the country by his embassy for two months. irregularly. By the end of 2013 over 11,000 people, many of them refugees from Syria, had crossed the border, compared to a total 1. Brunei Darussalam: Authorities must immediately revoke new Penal of 1,700 in 2012. Code (ASA 15/001/2014) The Bulgarian authorities initially struggled www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA15/001/2014/en to respond adequately. Hundreds of people in need of international protection ended up living for months in substandard conditions without access to asylum procedures. In January 2014, UNHCR, the UN refugee

Amnesty International Report 2014/15 87 agency, stated that asylum-seekers in HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS Bulgaria faced a real risk of inhuman A prominent human rights NGO, the and degrading treatment due to systemic Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC), faced deficiencies in the Bulgarian asylum and a tax inspection as well as harassment by far reception system. It called on the EU Member right groups. These were seen as intimidatory States to suspend transfers of asylum-seekers since the BHC is known for its criticism of back to Bulgaria.1 The reception conditions the government’s human rights record, in for new arrivals improved, thanks in large particular the treatment of asylum-seekers measure to EU and bilateral assistance. and the failure to prevent and address hate In April, UNHCR reviewed the situation in crimes. In January, prompted by a request Bulgaria and found that despite progress by VMRO-BND, an ultra-nationalist political made by the authorities, serious shortcomings party, the National Revenue Agency carried remained. It lifted its call for the general out a large-scale audit of the BHC’s finances suspension of transfers with the exception for the period 2007-2012. The audit did not of certain groups, especially those with establish any breach. special needs. On 12 September, a far right political party, The number of refugees and migrants the Bulgarian National Union, organized a dropped dramatically in 2014, to 3,966 by rally under the slogan “Let’s ban BHC!” The October as a result of a government policy rally concluded outside the offices of the adopted in November 2013 that aimed to BHC, where participants verbally abused decrease the number of people irregularly staff and visitors. They reportedly also called entering Bulgaria. A number of NGOs, for the banning of all NGOs in Bulgaria. The including Amnesty International, documented police officers present at the rally did not violations including unlawful expulsions of intervene to prevent or stop the harassment people back to Turkey (push-backs) without and verbal assaults. In November, in giving them a chance to seek asylum, which communication with Amnesty International, the authorities strenuously denied. An the Ministry of Interior denied any harassment official investigation was initiated only in one or intimidation of BHC staff or visitors during such case. the protest. Integration of refugees Recognized refugees faced problems in TORTURE AND OTHER ILL-TREATMENT accessing education, housing, health care Concerns remained regarding the and other public services. In August, the effectiveness and independence of government rejected a plan prepared by the investigations into allegations of police State Agency for Refugees and the Ministry ill-treatment. Investigations into several of Labour for the implementation of the allegations of the excessive use of force by National Integration Strategy adopted earlier police during the protests in the capital, Sofia, in the year. in June 2013 were still ongoing by the end of According to the State Agency for 2014.2 Refugees, in September only 98 out of 520 registered refugee children were enrolled in HATE CRIMES AGAINST ETHNIC school. This was due to the Schools Act which MINORITIES AND MIGRANTS requires any new pupil to pass an exam in In the second half of 2013, many violent the Bulgarian language and in other subjects. attacks targeting ethnic and religious A draft Law on Asylum and Refugees, which minorities, including migrants, refugees and was intended to ensure unhindered access to asylum-seekers, were reported by the media primary education for refugee children, was and NGOs, exposing shortcomings in the not adopted due to the fall of the government. prevention and investigation of such hate

88 Amnesty International Report 2014/15 crimes.3 In March, the European Court of BACKGROUND Human Rights found in Abdu v. Bulgaria that President Compaoré resigned at the end of authorities had failed to thoroughly investigate October following widespread protests against the racist motive associated with the physical a bill proposing constitutional amendments assault of a Sudanese national in 2003. that would allow him to run for re-election Between July and September, Amnesty in 2015. Following the bill’s withdrawal, International researched 16 cases of a transitional government led by interim alleged hate crimes against individuals and President Michel Kafando was sworn in properties. The hate motive was investigated in November to steer the country towards only in one of them. legislative and presidential elections. Legislative gaps regarding hate crimes on other protected grounds, such as sexual TORTURE AND OTHER ILL-TREATMENT orientation, gender identity or disability, In October, following a riot at MACO prison persisted. In January, the government in Ouagadougou, at least 11 prisoners were proposed a draft new Criminal Code closing repeatedly beaten and otherwise ill-treated by some of these gaps, but it had not been prison guards and accused of organizing an adopted by the end of the year. escape attempt. Two prisoners died following the riot, reportedly as a result of dehydration and lack of ventilation in their cell during 1. Bulgaria: Refugees continue to endure bad conditions (EUR a lockdown. 15/001/2014) More than 30 prisoners alleged that they www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR15/001/2014/en had been tortured and otherwise ill-treated 2. Bulgaria: Investigations into alleged excessive use of force during at the time of arrest, and while being held Sofia protests must be prompt and thorough (EUR 15/001/2013) in gendarmerie (military police) detention www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR15/001/2013/en centres and police stations around the 3. Because of who I am: Homophobia, transphobia and hate crimes in country in 2013 and 2014. One detainee Europe (EUR 01/014/2013) described being tortured for a period of 17 www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR01/014/2013/en days at the central Ouagadougou police station; his hands were handcuffed to his ankles, an iron bar was put underneath his knees and he was suspended in a squatting position between two tables. Other detainees BURKINA FASO also said they were beaten and forced to sign statements without knowledge of Burkina Faso their content. Head of state: Michel Kafando (replaced Blaise Compaoré in November) EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE Head of government: Yacouba Isaac Zida (replaced During protests in October and November, Luc Adolphe Tiao in November) security forces used excessive, sometimes lethal, force against peaceful protesters, resulting in at least 10 deaths with hundreds Concerns remained over the use of torture more injured. and other ill-treatment and excessive force On 30 and 31 October, prison guards and by police and other security personnel. High gendarmes used excessive and lethal force levels of maternal mortality persisted. to repress a prison riot and attempted escape at the MACO prison in Ouagadougou. Three prisoners were shot dead.

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