Conference organised on Western Thrace Turks in the 100th Anniversary of Lausanne
A conference titled "Minority Rights and Western Thrace Turks in Greece on the 100th Anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne" was organized by the Aegean and Balkan Studies Application and Research Center (EBAMER) and the History and Culture Community of Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University (IKÇÜ) in collaboration with the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association Izmir Branch.
The conference, held at IKÇÜ Hekim Hacı Paşa Conference Hall, aimed to present the history and current situation of Western Thrace Turks in Greece on the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne. The keynote speaker was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Hüseyinoğlu, a faculty member at the Balkan Research Institute of Thrace University. The event was attended by IKÇÜ Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Muhsin Akbaş and Prof. Dr. Süleyman Akbulut, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences Prof. Dr. Turan Gökçe, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Derya Özer Kaya, Organization President of the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association Musa Yurt, İzmir Branch President Mümin Durmuş, Edremit Branch President Naci Biroğul, as well as academic and administrative staff and students.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Hüseyinoğlu, who mentioned that he published his first academic works on Western Thrace Turks 20 years ago, emphasized that he was present at IKÇÜ to share his 20 years of knowledge. He explained the fundamental characteristics of the minority concept, stating that it refers to a community that is different from the majority, not dominated by them, and most importantly, has a minority consciousness. He emphasized that minorities who do not have this consciousness and forget their history, language, culture, and religion are disappearing and being erased from history in many parts of Europe.
Regarding the Western Thrace Turks, he highlighted that they are the only officially recognized minority in Greece, as confirmed by the Treaty of Lausanne. He mentioned that before 1923 and until the 1940s, there were Macedonians and Bulgarians who spoke Slavic languages, as well as Albanians who spoke Albanian in Greece. However, over time, they assimilated and lost their identities under the umbrella of Orthodoxy. He stated that the Western Thrace Turks are living in a region consisting of three provinces, namely Rodopi, where Turks are most densely populated, along with İskeçe and Meriç, located in the northeastern part of Greece, bordered by Bulgaria to the north and Turkey to the east.
Regarding the Western Thrace Turks' history and their inclusion in the minority status through the Treaty of Lausanne, he explained that after the Greek War of Independence in 1827 and the establishment of the Greek State in 1830, Turks living in the region gradually migrated to Anatolia as Greece expanded its borders. He mentioned that by 1923, only Western Thrace Turks remained in the region. While approximately half a million Turks in Greece migrated to Anatolia through population exchange based on the Treaty of Lausanne, he emphasized that the Western Thrace Turks and Istanbul Greeks were not subject to this exchange. However, due to Greece's pressure and assimilation policies, many Western Thrace Turkish families, who were not subject to population exchange, were displaced from their homes and forced to migrate to Turkey until the 1940s.
Regarding the importance of the Treaty of Lausanne for Western Thrace Turks, he explained that they became a minority as a result of the mass migration of nearly half a million Turks and received minority rights. These rights included the preservation of their cultural, religious, and educational institutions, as well as the freedom to use their mother tongue and practice their religion. However, he pointed out that despite these rights being guaranteed on paper, the Western Thrace Turks have faced various challenges and discrimination over the years.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hüseyinoğlu highlighted some of the issues faced by the Western Thrace Turks in Greece. These include restrictions on their religious freedom, limitations on the education system in their mother tongue, difficulties in obtaining Turkish citizenship, and obstacles in participating in political and public life. He emphasized that these challenges have affected the social, cultural, and economic development of the Western Thrace Turkish community.
He also discussed the legal framework governing minority rights in Greece, including the Treaty of Lausanne, the Greek Constitution, and relevant international conventions. He stressed the importance of ensuring the full implementation of these legal provisions to protect and promote the rights of the Western Thrace Turks.
During the conference, other speakers and participants also shared their research and perspectives on the history, identity, and current situation of the Western Thrace Turks. The event provided an opportunity for scholars, activists, and members of the Western Thrace Turkish community to come together, exchange ideas, and raise awareness about the challenges faced by the minority group.
Overall, the conference aimed to shed light on the historical and ongoing issues affecting the Western Thrace Turkish community in Greece and to foster dialogue and collaboration among various stakeholders. It served as a platform to discuss ways to address the challenges and promote the rights and well-being of the Western Thrace Turks, particularly in the context of the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne.
