Bulgarian Turks within the context of the compulsory immigration

Immigration phenomenon has a particular significance in Turkish social life. It has been a determining factor in many areas. While immigration was sometimes done for acquiring a homeland and sometimes due to the natural disasters and urgencies, at other times it occured within the effort of returning to the homeland. In this study, the immigration period of the Bulgarian Turks was handled. Turks, who maintained their existence in the Balkans for over five hundred years, were forced to immigrate from Bulgaria after the Ottoman Empire lost its power. This study covers the political period following the independence of Bulgaria, the agreements made between Bulgarians and Turks, the aggreements regarding the immigrants around the world and the difficulties emposed in Bulgaria on the Bulgarian Turks within the social areas. During the study, literature research was made and also interviews were conducted with the authorities of the associations such as BALGÖÇ, The Association of Balkan Inhabitants, Balkan Turks Solidarity Association, Association of the Bulgarian Turks which were established to support the Bulgarian Turks. The study begins with the question ?Why have the Turks who have lived in Bulgaria for centuries migrated to Turkey?? and carries out analysises in the political context as well. The laws that protect that the minorities are explored. However, it is concluded that the Bulgarian State has not complied neither with the aggreements made with them nor with numerous agreements signed by many other states which were also binding for the Bulgarian State and that it has coerced the Turkish minority to immigrate through various forms of force. In the study, the difficulties that the Bulgarian Turks have experienced have a particular importance for they are examined from the social and political perspectives. This points out the reflections of political decisions on the community life. Keywords: Balkan Turks, Immigration, Compulsory Immigration, Immigrant, Minority rights