ABTTF: "Opportunity for change for the new government!"

ABTTF President: "Just as father Mitsotakis realised the policy of isonomia-isopolitia, i.e. equality before the law and equal citizenship, the son Mitsotakis says change as a government!  However, the government must first show its goodwill towards our community, and this is done by implementing the ECtHR judgements that have not been implemented for 15 years. Then, it should establish a dialogue mechanism to produce solutions to all our problems together at equal eye level, not "for the minority, despite the minority" but "for the minority, together with the minority". We do not know if those days will come, but this is the right thing to do! We are determined to voice our demand loudly!"

Following the failure to form a government in the general elections held on 21 May in our country Greece, the New Democracy Party (YDP) won the elections and formed the government alone in the general elections held for the second time on 25 June.

Approximately one month after the formation of the new government, the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports announced that it had decided to close down Turkish primary schools in seven villages in the province of Rodopi and two villages in the province of Xanthi. With the closure of 9 more primary schools belonging to the Turkish community in Western Thrace on the grounds of insufficient number of students for the 2023-2024 academic year, the number of Turkish primary schools in our region dropped to 90.

Commenting on the latest developments, ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu said: "After the elections, we received the news that 9 more primary schools will be closed in the 2023-2024 academic year. There has been a rapid decrease in the number of primary schools every year since 2011. It is said to be a nationwide practice, but the truth is that the state has no right to intervene in our schools! Therefore, as we have always said, this situation has become an instrument of systematic discrimination against our community. While there are 42 state kindergartens in Rhodope and 30 in Xanthi, we do not have a single kindergarten as the Turkish community in both provinces. The main aim is to implement the strategy applied in Rhodes and Kos, to show that there is no Turkish presence in Western Thrace and to create such a perception. For this purpose, it bans the definition of Turkish in the names of our associations, closes our schools and does not recognise our muftis. Just like in Rhodes and Kos...  The state policy based on denial is also reflected in the media.  Discriminatory, stigmatising and marginalising language against our society dominates the media! After the 21 May elections, we experienced this very vividly. However, interestingly, between and after the two elections, we also witnessed some politicians and academics in our country making positive statements about our existence and identity. I wonder if these are the first footsteps of change? Maybe, just as father Mitsotakis implemented the policy of isonomia-isopolitia, i.e. equality before the law and equal citizenship, the son Mitsotakis, as a government, calls for change!  However, the government must first show its goodwill towards our society, and this is done by implementing the ECtHR judgements that have not been implemented for 15 years. Then, it should establish a dialogue mechanism to produce solutions to all our problems together at equal eye level, not "for the minority, despite the minority" but "for the minority, together with the minority". We do not know if those days will come, but this is the right thing to do! We are determined to voice this demand loudly!