Elections in Minority foundations in Türkiye, persecution in Greece
While the Greek Minority in Türkiye enjoys their religious freedom, the Turkish Minority in Greece continues to be persecuted.
The elections for the non-Muslim Orthodox (Greek) Minority foundations in Gökçeada and Bozcaada in Türkiye will be held until the end of the year with the circular dated 18.06.2022.
According to the news of canakkaledemokrat.com, elections were held in Gökçeada yesterday for the foundations (6 in total) belonging to the Greek Orthodox Churches in Çanakkale.
One of the 6 foundations in Çanakkale province is in Bozcaada (Bozcaada Kimisis Teodoku Greek Orthodox Church Foundation), and 5 are in Gökçeada (Gökçeada center Panagia Greek Orthodox Church Foundation, Tepeköy Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church Foundation, Zeytinliköy Agia Yorgi Greek Orthodox Church Foundation, Dereköy Agia Marina Greek Orthodox Church Foundation and Bademliköy Panagia Kimisis Greek Orthodox Church Foundation).
According to the circular, Greek Orthodox Minority members can vote separately for each foundation in their province.
Around 360 citizens in total started to cast their votes at the ballot boxes set up as of 10:00 am. Voting ended at 17:00.
6 ballot boxes were opened and boards of directors with 7 principal and 4 substitute members were determined.
“Elections in Türkiye, persecution in Greece”
Cengiz Ömer, President of the Çınar Association, speaking to MİLLET about the issue, stated that while great progress has been made in restoring the rights of non-Muslim minorities in Türkiye, there is an effort in the opposite direction in Greece. President Omar said:
"The Greek Minority, whose rights were restored and whose situation was gradually improved by the adoption of a non-Muslim minority policy in Türkiye, which is far from the mistakes of the past, can now hold elections for foundations. The Turkish Minority, left in Western Thrace in return for the Greek Minority, is unfortunately deprived of these rights. Our minority not only asks for the elections in their foundations but also expects the restoration of all minority rights.
"The administration in Western Thrace is illegally expelling the foundation committees"
Greece continues to usurp the rights of the Turkish Minority who were left in Western Thrace with the same rights in return for the Non-Muslim (Greek Orthodox) Minority in Türkiye and all minority rights for both minorities are guaranteed by the Treaty of Lausanne. Violating Lausanne Treaty and international law, Greece continues to deny the ethnic identity of the Muslim Turkish Minority in Western Thrace, as well as unlawfully prevent its muftis and delegations from holding their elections.
"We are facing cultural genocide in Western Thrace"
As a state policy, the Greek administration systematically violates all acquired Minority and Human Rights of the Turkish Minority and applies pressure. There is great persecution not only in the area of religious freedoms, but also in the area of freely identifying oneself as Turkish (identity), culture and education. It's almost like we are dealing with a cultural genocide."
