The migration of Pomaks from Bulgaria to Türkiye in the initial decade of the Turkish Republic (1923-1933)

Muslim minorities in Bulgaria faced oppression and forced assimilation at various times after the country gained independence following the Ottoman-Russian War of 1877-78 and officially separated from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Bulgarian Mohammedans, as the Bulgarian state called them at that time, the Pomaks were particularly been politicized during different periods in Bulgaria. The Pomaks experienced a gradual migration to Türkiye as a means of preserving their identity and evading increased pressure from the Bulgarian authorities. The Republic of Türkiye's stance on Pomak migration is reflected in the bilateral agreements established with Bulgaria and in the official communications between relevant institutions. This article seeks to assess the factors that compelled the Pomaks to migrate to Türkiye beginning in the 1920s, as well as the experiences they encountered during this period. Additionally, it will examine the response and the political stance of the newly formed Republic of Türkiye towards this migration during its initial decade.