Thousands of people demonstrated in several Bulgarian towns on Monday to protest violence against women, following an incident a month ago in which a teenage girl was slashed a hundred times by an ex-boyfriend.
A court in the central town of Stara Zagora, which heard the case, initially described her injuries as “minor” and did not order the arrest of the young man, aged 26.
Under pressure from outraged public opinion, the authorities have since arrested the suspect, who denies the assault.
On Monday, demonstrators, including at least 5,000 people in the capital, Sofia, called for reform of the justice system and better protection for women, carrying placards that read, among other things, “Not one more woman!”
“How is it possible for such sadism to be described as ‘minor bodily harm’? The court’s reaction is shocking,” Emilia Stoyanova, 39, who works in human resources, told French news agency AFP.
“The traditional tolerance of domestic violence, the dysfunction of institutions must change,” said another protester, Ivan, who agreed to reveal only his first name.
According to police figures, 18 women were killed in the country in the first three months of the year, but human rights activists believe this figure is vastly underestimated.
