ABTTF criticizes education official over statements on Western Thrace minority schools
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) has criticized Marigula Kosmidou, acting Regional Director of Education for Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, over her remarks regarding the closure of Turkish minority primary schools and issues related to the Lausanne Peace Treaty.
ABTTF argued that a regional education official exceeded her authority by making statements concerning foreign policy, international agreements and Türkiye-Greece relations.
The controversy follows Greece’s decision, published in the Official Gazette on July 13, 2026, to suspend the operation of eight primary schools belonging to the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace starting from the 2026-2027 academic year. Shortly before the beginning of the school year, some student registrations at the İskeçe Central Turkish Minority Primary School were also reportedly cancelled.
Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the developments, stating that the school closures and registration cancellations undermine minority education rights guaranteed under the Lausanne Peace Treaty.
Kosmidou responds to criticism
Following public criticism, Kosmidou issued a written statement on July 21, arguing that the closure of eight Turkish minority schools was not an action targeting only minority education.
She stated that 39 public schools in the region had also been suspended during the same period, attributing the closures to demographic decline across Europe.
Kosmidou said Greece fully respects its obligations under the Lausanne Peace Treaty and directly responded to the assessment made by Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She also argued that Türkiye does not have legal or factual legitimacy to comment on minority schools in Greece and described the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace as a "religious minority" rather than an ethnic minority.
ABTTF: "The political nature of the issue is clear"
ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu said it was significant that an acting regional education director, rather than the Greek Foreign Ministry, responded to the statement of Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry.
Habipoğlu argued that a public education official commenting on foreign policy, the interpretation of the Lausanne Peace Treaty and Türkiye-Greece relations goes beyond educational matters and demonstrates that the issue is not solely about education.
Referring to the Lausanne Treaty, Habipoğlu stated that the minority in Western Thrace is defined as a "Muslim minority" under the agreement, while the minority in Türkiye is defined as a "non-Muslim minority" rather than specifically as Greek or Greek Orthodox.
He claimed that the closure of Turkish minority primary schools in Western Thrace is part of a broader policy aimed at weakening the minority education system over time.
Habipoğlu also referred to the Turkish communities of Rhodes and Kos, claiming that Turkish schools operating on the islands after their transfer to Greece in 1947 were closed by authorities in 1974. He argued that a similar process is now being attempted in Western Thrace.
