"Celebrating Christian hols in minority (Muslim-Turkish) schools is unacceptable"

Western Thrace
Thu, 23 Jan 2020 13:12 GMT
KINAL MP of Rhodope Ilhan Ahmet taking the floor in the Greek parliament, said, "It is unacceptable to celebrate the 3 Saints hols in minority schools too which is celebrated every year on January 30".Ilhan Ahmet, expressing his reactions against the Chri...
"Celebrating Christian hols in minority (Muslim-Turkish) schools is unacceptable"
KINAL MP of Rhodope Ilhan Ahmet taking the floor in the Greek parliament, said, "It is unacceptable to celebrate the 3 Saints hols in minority schools too which is celebrated every year on January 30".

Ilhan Ahmet, expressing his reactions against the Christian celebrations imposed to the minority students, stated in his Facebook account that he drew attention to the important issues concerning the Western Thrace Turkish Minority in the draft talks titled "Education Regulations" submitted by the Minister of National Education Niki Kerameos on the evening of January 21.

"I made a speech at the parliamentary session this evening, where Prime Minister Mr. Mitsotakis was also present, regarding the draft "Regulations on Education" presented by Minister of National Education, Niki Kerameos;

1) I reminded that new graduates who have completed the university abroad have been waiting for years to introduce their diplomas, and this waiting period has exceeded 4 years. I have stated that this period was economically disastrous for these young people and their families who were unemployed during the process.

In this case, I underlined that article 11 of the DOATAP law number 3328/2005 was clearly violated. Because, according to this, the graduate who applied, must have a diploma within 90 days. And non-observance of this time forces young people to migrate.

2) Another issue that I brought to my attention was that it is unacceptable to celebrate a religious holiday known as the 3 Saints of the Christian faith, which is celebrated every year on January 30, also in Minority schools. With a decision to be taken on the subject, I stated that minority schools should be exempted.

In this regard, I submitted the request letter prepared by the union of minority schools committees on 21.01.2020 to the parliamentary clerk to be recorded in the parliamentary minutes."

CELEBRATION IS IMPOSED DESPITE THE REACTIONS OF THE MINORITY

The administrative unit responsible for the functioning of the Minority Schools, which frequently came to the agenda with its practices that missed the peace of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, has insisted on scandals by sending the program that includes the celebration of the Christian holiday named "Three Saints Day" to the Muslim Turkish Minority Schools, despite the reactions and warnings of the parents and school boards. 

In 2018, a different program than the public schools was provided to some Turkish Minority Schools upon the request of the school administrators, with the second instruction sent to the schools by the units affiliated with the Eastern Macedonian Thrace Regional Education Directorate, on the objections of the minority administrators. However, it is stated that this is also against the existing law, according to lawyers. According to the law, Muslim Turkish students must be completely exempted from such religious ceremonies.

In addition some authorities have expressed their reactions as follows;

Lawyer Ercan Ahmet, the President of the Union of Western Thrace Turkish Minority Council, said in his statement to Millet Newspaper that "this unfair implementation is no more than an effort to assimilate the minority".

Another reaction to the unfair implementation of the Greek Ministry of Education came from the European Western Thrace Turkish Federation (ABTTF), the umbrella organization of Western Thrace Turks living in Europe. In the statement it was said, "We do not accept this imposition that ignores the religious and cultural values of the Western Thrace Turkish society and aims to be fully assimilated".

Regarding the issue, the President of the European Western Thrace Turkish Federation (ABTTF), Halit Habip Oğlu, said, "This imposition which is made for the celebration of a religious holiday of the Christian faith in Western Thrace Turkish minority schools is strictly unacceptable. This circular, which disregards the religious and cultural values of the Western Thrace Turkish community and aims to completely assimilate the Western Thrace Turkish children and youths, should be withdrawn immediately".

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