Deputy Özgür Ferhat: "Our Minority has important institutional and economic problems"
While seeking solutions to the problems of the Rhodope region in the parliament in the capital Athens, MP Özgür Ferhat also meets with the people of the region and listens to their problems.
Özgür Ferhat, by opening his new political office in Komotini, will communicate more closely with the citizens and listen to their requests.
Opening the political office next to the Western Thrace Imam Hatip High School Graduates and Members Association (BİHLIMDER) at Konstantinou Palaiologou 12 in the centre of Komotini on Saturday 17 February 2023, MP Ferhat hosted the guests attended the opening ceremony.
Among the executives who attended the opening of the political office were İbrahim Şerif, President of the Consultative Committee of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace and Mufti of Komotini, Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of Xanthi, Hüseyin Zeybek, MP of Xanthi, state executives, elected executives of the municipalities of Komotini, Maronya, Kozlukebir and Yassıköy, heads and executives of non-governmental organisations.
Addressing the journalists at the press conference organised before the inauguration, MP Ferhat said that the Minority is facing economic problems.
Stating that they will continue to serve the people under the roof of the newly established party, Ferhat said, "We want to listen to the problems of our people and help them. We all know that; we had a very difficult election process and our people managed to send me to parliament with a very high vote. I would like to thank our people once again through you."
Stating that the people are facing great economic difficulties, Ferhat said that as a result of this, many young people had to migrate abroad.
Referring to the problems of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, MP Ferhat stated that the Minority has important institutional and economic problems.
Farhad continued his words as follows:
"I think that our Minority has important institutional and economic problems. The institutional problems are the election of the administration of foundations and the election of the mufti in a way that the Minority wants. Secondly, one of the most important problems of the Minority is education. Our Minority education has been undermined, its way has been blocked. We intend to ensure that Minority education progresses under modern conditions. Another issue is to ensure that our Minority institutions can function freely. As a party, we plan to pave the way for this."
Finally, regarding the homosexuality bill passed in the parliament, he said, "I, as a Rodopi MP, did not vote for this bill because I did not support it. I did not participate in the work in the parliament. I did not want to disregard the values, thoughts and history of our people. My respect is for our people who embraced me and sent me to this position. We, as the New Left, held talks among ourselves in a democratic way. There I declared that I will not take part in this draft law. I wanted to share this statement with you. Finally, I would like to thank all my guests who attended the opening."
