29 January National Resistance and Solidarity Day celebrated in Komotini
Western Thrace Turks commemorated the march of 29 January 1988 and the vandalism against Turks and their workplaces on 29 January 1990 with an event organised in Komotini, where the Greek state announced its voice to the whole world to stop the denial of "Turkish" identity, the implementation of assimilation policies, the denial of rights and the continuation of the problems.
The Consultative Committee of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace (BTTADK) organised a commemoration event at the Komotini Turkish Youth Union (GTGB) on Monday 29 January 2024 at 18.30 on the occasion of the anniversary of the "29 January National Resistance and Solidarity Day".
The programme started with a minute's silence to commemorate those who took part in the 29 Januarys for the rights of the Western Thrace Turks and those who participated in and supported the struggles for the rights of the Western Thrace Turks until today but have passed away.
Afterwards, a cinevision show was presented about the reasons that led to the 29 Januaries in 1988 and 1990.
The opening speech of the programme was made by İbrahim Şerif, President of BTTDK and Mufti of Komotini, who moderated the event.
He greeted the cognates participating in the event. Afterwards, he shared his thoughts about the 29 Januarys, in which he himself took part, and the difficulties experienced with the participants.
Then the speakers of the event, Journalist Hülya Emin, President of Xanthi Turkish Union Ozan Ahmetoğlu and Psychologist Koray Bağdatlı took the floor.
The speakers shared with the participants the march of thousands of Western Thracian Turks in Komotini on 29 January 1988, the vandalism against Turks and their workplaces on 29 January 1990 and what has changed in the rights of the Turkish minority in the 34 years since 29 January.
At the end of the programme, Mümin Ali and Batuhan Hasan added colour to the event with the folk songs they sang together.
The event commemorating the 29 January National Resistance and Solidarity Day, organised by the Advisory Board of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, attracted great interest.
The event was attended by the Consul General of Turkey in Komotini Aykut Ünal, his wife İlayda Ünal, BTTADK President and Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif, Mufti of Xanthi Mustafa Trampa, Deputy Mufti Fehim Ahmet, Ahmet Hraloğlu, FEP Party President Çiğdem Asafoğlu, New Left Party Rodopi MP Özgür Ferhat, State Vice President Rıdvan Hacı Mehmet, State President Advisor Rıdvan Molla İsa, State Assembly Members Ahmet Kasap and Fatih İsmailko, Kozlukebir Mayor Erdem Hüseyin, Mustafçova Mayor Ahmet Kurt, opposition leader Cemil Kabza, Mayor of Yassıköy Caner İmam and Deputy Mayor Mehmet Arif, President of Komotini Turkish Youth Union Sedat Hasan, President of Xanthi Turkish Union Ozan Ahmetoğlu, President of BAKEŞ Hüseyin Bostancı, General Director of BAKEŞ Pervin Hayrullah, President of WTMUGA Hüseyin Baltacı, Cengiz Ömer, President of ÇINAR Association, Mehmet Emin Ahmet, President of Western Thrace Imam Hatip High School Graduates and Members Association, Sadık Sadık, President of Western Thrace Mosques Religious Officers Association, former presidents and compatriots from Evros, Xanthi and Komotini provinces participated.
The event was also attended by Hasan Karaömer, President of Bursa Branch of Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association and members of the board of directors.
