ABTTF: 'Happy January 29 – Social Solidarity and National Resistance Day!'
**ABTTF: 'Happy January 29 – Social Solidarity and National Resistance Day!'
January 28, 2025 – Tuesday**
Halit Habipoğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), made a statement regarding January 29, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced by the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace.
ABTTF issued the following statement:
"The Turkish community of Western Thrace commemorates the 37th anniversary of January 29, 1988, when it peacefully protested Greece’s denial of its Turkish identity by proclaiming ‘We are Turks.’ The community also marks the 35th anniversary of the attacks it suffered on January 29, 1990.
Thirty-seven years ago, on January 29, 1988, the Turks of Western Thrace took to the streets to declare their existence against those in Greece who claimed, ‘There are no Turks here,’ and to oppose the state’s denial of their identity.
On January 29, 1990, while commemorating the events of 1988, Western Thrace Turks once again gathered in Komotini and were attacked. Businesses and shops owned by Turks were vandalized, and the Greek police failed to intervene to stop the assaults.
January 29 is a turning point in the struggle for the rights and freedoms of the Turkish community of Western Thrace. It is commemorated annually as the ‘Day of Social Solidarity and National Resistance.’
Shortly after the events of January 29, 1988, the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) was founded on February 28, 1988, to support the Turkish community’s struggle for rights and democracy on the international stage and to amplify its voice worldwide."
Statement from ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu:
"Thirty-seven years have passed since the events of January 29, 1988. The Xanthi Turkish Union, Komotini Turkish Youth Union, and Western Thrace Turkish Teachers’ Union remain without legal status due to the removal of their signs containing the word ‘Turkish.’ These associations, closed down on the pretext of their names, have yet to have their legal status restored, and their signboards remain empty. Despite the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling in 2008 in favor of our rights, Greece has not implemented these decisions for 17 years, refusing to reinstate the Xanthi Turkish Union, as well as the Rhodope Province Turkish Women’s Cultural Association and the Evros Province Minority Youth Association.
As Western Thrace Turks, despite decades of oppression, discrimination, and rights violations, we have not given up. We stand firm today, just as we did on the first day. With determination and perseverance, we continue our struggle. We organize marches and protests to demand fair and equal educational opportunities. In our country’s national parliament, we do not remain silent; we confront authorities with our concerns. We fight discrimination through all our institutions, asserting our right to fundamental freedoms. Those at the forefront of this struggle are frequently subjected to defamation, slander, and smear campaigns, aimed at discrediting them. Our Federation has also been a target, leading us to file a defamation lawsuit against a website spreading false news. Our legal battle continues.
We persistently bring our issues to the agenda and raise our voices. We know that our struggle is a long and arduous journey, requiring patience and perseverance. And so, we continue our path undeterred.
Happy January 29 – Social Solidarity and National Resistance Day!"
