A turning point in the struggle for rights and freedoms of the Western Thrace Turkish Community: January 29

Turkish Minority
Thu, 30 Jan 2025 10:07 GMT
Iskeçe Turkish Union President Ozan Ahmetoğlu Reflects on Key Events in Western Thrace
A turning point in the struggle for rights and freedoms of the Western Thrace Turkish Community: January 29

Ozan Ahmetoğlu, President of the Iskeçe Turkish Union, stated that January 29 represents a turning point for the Muslim Turkish Minority in Western Thrace. He emphasized that both January 29, 1988, and January 29, 1990, are significant dates in the history of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority.

In an interview with an AA correspondent, Ahmetoğlu highlighted that the problems leading to the 1988 protests were primarily the obstacles placed by Greece against the minority's rights, including the removal of the signs of associations with the word "Turk" by the Greek police in 1983 and the Supreme Court ruling to close these associations at the end of 1987. Ahmetoğlu also noted that, despite no legal justification, the minority faced practical challenges such as being unable to obtain loans, acquire real estate, obtain tractor licenses, or even make repairs to their homes.

Ahmetoğlu explained, “The protest on January 29, 1988, can be seen as a response to the repressive, discriminatory, and migration-forcing policies applied to the Western Thrace Turkish Minority. The decision to shut down associations was the last straw for the minority, which had already been subjected to significant pressure and discrimination.”

He added that Greek state institutions, anticipating a large reaction, banned a planned march by the Western Thrace Turkish Minority on January 29, 1988, and took measures such as blocking access to Komotini (Gümülcine) from surrounding villages, Iskeçe, and Alexandroupoli (Dedeağaç).

Ahmetoğlu emphasized that the protests on that day did not involve clashes with the police or acts of violence, and the planned event was entirely peaceful. Despite significant restrictions, approximately 10,000 Turkish citizens from Western Thrace attended the demonstration in Komotini, where minority leaders made speeches calling for the recognition of minority rights.

Public Reactions and Expectations Regarding January 29

Ahmetoğlu explained that the January 29 protests were a message signaling that there was an issue in the region, which had previously been very calm. While much of the Greek press characterized the protests as acts by extremists within the minority, some left-wing newspapers reported on the events objectively.

Ahmetoğlu further stated, "January 29 is a turning point for the Turkish community of Western Thrace. Through these protests, we said: ‘We, the Muslim Turkish community in Western Thrace, want to continue living here. This is our homeland, our land. We will stay here, but on one condition: we will continue to live here with our human rights and minority rights intact.’ January 29 manifested this determination. We organize these commemorations to honor the struggle of our ancestors, to emphasize its importance, and to pass it on to younger generations."

Ahmetoğlu also noted that on January 29, 1989, a prayer was held in remembrance of the 1988 protests, and a similar commemoration was planned for January 29, 1990, but it was met with opposition from far-right extremist groups. These groups caused damage to Turkish-owned businesses in Komotini and looted their properties. Ahmetoğlu commented, "Some parts of the Greek press reflected the incidents as 'unwanted events in Komotini,' and some media outlets failed to fully cover the situation. On the other hand, some left-wing parties visited the region after the events."

He further shared the common belief among the Turkish community of Western Thrace that these events were organized with the aim of intimidating the minority. There is also a widespread perception that these incidents were a form of retaliation for the events in Istanbul on September 6-7, 1955.

Messages Ahead of the Davos Talks

İbrahim Şerif, the Elected Mufti of Komotini, also shared his firsthand account of the events on January 29, 1988, and January 29, 1990. He recalled being 37 years old and working as a preacher at the Komotini Mufti's office in 1988, the same year that the Davos talks between Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Özal and Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou took place.

Şerif explained that the Western Thrace Turkish Minority decided to protest before the Davos talks to draw attention to the minority issues in the region. Despite numerous barriers, around 10,000 people, including men, women, children, and elderly, participated in the planned march from the Old Mosque in Komotini to the Governor’s Office.

He emphasized that the purpose of the march was to raise awareness of the issues facing the minority. "Although we couldn’t march, the problems experienced here were heard around the world, in Greece, Turkey, and Europe," he said.

Şerif went on to explain that in the wake of political instability in Greece, the Western Thrace Turkish Minority succeeded in sending independent representatives, such as Sadık Ahmet, to parliament in 1989. He recalled that during the November 1989 general elections, Sadık Ahmet, İsmail Rodoplu, and he himself had announced their candidacies, but their applications were rejected due to errors. Only İsmail Rodoplu was elected to parliament.

Şerif shared that, despite being convicted on January 26, 1990, for using the term "Turkishness" in their announcement and sentenced to prison, he was incarcerated during the events of January 29, 1990. He later learned from visitors and the press that organized groups had attacked Turkish-owned businesses in Komotini, destroying and looting them.

Reflecting on the portrayal of the events in the Greek press, Şerif noted that the minority's actions were generally depicted as "rebellion" rather than a demand for rights.

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