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The rector of the University of Sofia finally unilaterally terminated Professor Mihail Mirchev’s civil contract after students pointed out that his lectures preached xenophobia and racism.
Mirchev has been a teacher for years. In 2015, he was a candidate for mayor of Sofia and for many years he was a “red” sociologist.
On November 11, the rector received a signal from the Society of Students for Equality, according to which there are “severe grades and hate speech on racial and ethnic grounds in Professor Mihail Mirchev’s lectures in the course” Social work with ETHNO groups “, which he leads as a part-time professor at the Faculty of Education and Arts. The same online lectures were even uploaded to the YouTube platform.
The Rector has referred to the Ethics Commission, who has heard the position of both Mirchev and the students.
In a letter to the rector Mirchev has denied the allegations, denied that his lectures had racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic content and stressed that “it emphasizes cultural specificities, special mentality and emotional reactivity, behavioral stereotypes, specific forms of self-stigmatization, etc.”
The professor gave examples of racist complaints that, according to the signal, reflect his opinion, when in reality the lectures show that Such extreme accusations are a provocation that he himself denies. For example, on the occasion of the observation indicated in the sign that “We need a dictatorship to fix the gypsies”, Professor Mirchev quotes the lecture continuation, in which he opposes the observation of one of the students and explains that such a dictatorial social model is inapplicable in European societies with a democratic political orientation.
Another example of a provocative comment that does not reflect the teacher’s opinion and is later refuted is the title “Will the Bulgarian nation die? Is it possible for Bulgaria to become a ‘Jewish state’? If, below 1%, they control the state and the capital, the media and the arts.” It is clear from the discussion at the conference that the purpose of this statement is not to inculcate anti-Semitism, but rather, through its absurdity, the speaker intends to show that fears that with the increase in the percentage of other ethnic groups the Bulgarian nation perish are unsustainable. the professor in his explanation to the rector.
Examples are given with other countries where the increase in migrants and minorities and the decrease in the majority have not led the country to stop being English, Jewish or French. The conclusion is that “We should not make such elementary and catastrophic judgments: the percentage decreases, we lose our state, the percentage decreases, we perish as a nation.”
Specifically about the fear that “Bulgaria will become a Jewish state if the Jews in Bulgaria begin to rule, with the awareness that a small community has taken over the entire society,” he added. Professor Mirchev’s comment is “Things are very complicated and we must not be hasty, especially catastrophic … we must not draw elementary conclusions.”
The Ethics Commission of the University of Sofia has expressed the opinion that in the letter of the Society of Students for Equality are present both well-founded accusations and final qualifications and exaggerations. The Ethics Committee does not accept the claims of the Student Society that in his lectures Prof. Mirchev “displays fascist and far-right theories”, nor that they are the same “Full of xenophobic and anti-Semitic content.”
According to the commission, the violations of Prof. Mirchev established by the inspection are reduced to “Generalization, stereotypes and one-sidedness in the presentation of individual ethnic groups”. “Reinforced with suggestions of hostility and aggression, they could reinforce prejudices and lead to discriminatory attitudes.” indicates the commission.
The lectures contain statements that are not supported by real data and do not refer to reliable sources and statistical analysis, nor do they precisely define basic concepts such as “community”, “national minority”, “collective rights”, “diaspora”, contrary to the criteria of scientific accuracy in teaching. Negative stereotypes and cliches of everyday speech are used, as well as generalizations in which conclusions about the community as a whole are drawn from negative examples.
The Commission cites as an example the description of the behavior of the Roma in the second conference, when available stereotypes and generalizations. No specific evidence has been provided for “collective rights” of the Roma, no alternative points of view are presented, and the focus is on the negative and offensive message, suggesting that all Roma have the behavior of criminals.
No evidence for definitions (for refugees, br) like “aggressive”, “not willing to integrate” etc., which refers without reservation to all the refugees and migrants you mention in the conference.
In his third lecture, the lecturer again summarizes that “in its lower parts” the Roma community “often” is “aggressive.” And in this case no evidence is provided for this “aggressiveness”.
In the end, the commission found violation of art. 2 of the Code of Ethics, which refers to intellectual honesty in scientific activity, as well as to Art. 5 for academic responsibility in professional conduct that requires precision and reliability.
With regard to negative stereotypes and clichés about ethnic groups perceived as offensive and degrading, as well as generalizations that do not take into account individual differences and that, if not supported by reliable data, are unfair, the Commission considers that there is a violation of art. 3 and art. 4 of the Code of Ethics.
Based on the findings of the Ethics Committee and all materials collected the rector of the University of Sofia, Prof. Gerdjikov, has considered that there are sufficient grounds to terminate Prof. Mirchev’s civil contract.
The University of Sofia has always been a leading force in the defense of democratic and liberal values. It is in constant association with Roma and Jewish organizations, organizes joint events, such as honoring the victims of World Holocaust Day, offers programs dedicated to women and gender, the integration of minorities and people with special needs, found the only specialty ” Hebraistics “of the country, etc., notes the university press center.
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