ABTTF reacts to "unconscious" statements of Bolosis targeting the Turkish Minority
Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) President Halit Habipoğlu reacted strongly to the statements of Hristos Bolosis, Secretary General of the Staff Association of the Minister of National Defence, in his article titled "What is happening in Xanthi?" in his article titled "What is happening in Xanthi?".
In his article, Bolosis opposed the use of the Turkish identity by the minority in Western Thrace, called on the authorities to take the steps required by international agreements and claimed that the minority is not Turkish but Muslim. He also criticised the use of the motto "The Newspaper of Western Thrace Turks" by the Millet newspaper belonging to the Turkish community in Western Thrace, the participation of the population in the region in the elections with "Turkish" parties, the publication of "Turkish" newspapers and the establishment of "Turkish" associations.
Bolosis caused reactions by stating that "the ears of the unconscious Muslims in Thrace should be pulled". Habipoğlu, in his evaluation of Bolosis' statements, made the following statements:
"The internet news site Newsbreak is a site known for its articles targeting our community. The lawsuit we filed against our federation for making baseless and false news is still ongoing. Now, Newsbreak, which has published an article written by a retired soldier, has included a provocative statement targeting the Turkish community in Western Thrace.
According to Lausanne, if there is a Muslim minority in Greece, there are non-Muslim minorities in Türkiye. I would like to ask Bolosis, if there are no Turks in our region, why do we have Turkish-language schools, why do we have Turkish-language newspapers? I would recommend Bolosis to look at the number of votes received by the FEP Party in the elections, which he says we participated in the elections with the Turkish party; if there are no Turks, who gave the votes to the FEP Party?
I would like to remind you that our Turkish associations were established immediately after Lausanne because we have been living in these lands as Turks for centuries, this is our homeland. Today, the closure of our associations with the word 'Turkish' in their names and the change of our schools called 'Turkish schools' to 'Minority Schools' do not change the fact that we exist."
Habipoğlu's statements were evaluated as an indication of the Turkish community in Western Thrace taking a strong stance against the attacks on its identity and existence.
