Ex-minister Filis speaks about minority rights, dialogue, election of muftis
The final report of the Thrace Development Commission was discussed in the Greek Parliament on 6 April 2022.
During the discussion of the final report of the non-partisan Thrace Development Commission in the Greek Parliament on April 6, 2022, the deputies expressed their views.
Ex-SYRIZA minister Filis, who spoke in this context, expressed his view by declaring his opinion about minority rights, dialogue, and the election of muftis.
Nikos Filis, SYRIZA Deputy and Former Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, said that in line with the decisions of the European Court, the right of Greek citizens belonging to the "Muslim Minority" to identify themselves ethnically must be fully respected. Filis noted that SYRIZA wanted a mufti to be determined through dialogue with the Minority.
Drawing attention to the problem of minority foundations, Filis said, “The administrative committees of foundations should be determined by Muslim voters.”
Michalis Katrinis, Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the Movement for Change (KINAL), said in his speech that they do not distinguish between Muslims and Christians living in (Western) Thrace.
Stating that they are all Greek citizens with the same rights, Katrinis said that the state should save Greek Muslim citizens from the influence of circles that seek tension and undermine their development and progress.
Halit Habipoğlu, the President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), published a statement regarding the issue.
“In his speech on behalf of his party, SYRIZA Deputy and Former Minister Nikos Filis made statements that are realistic and in line with the principles of the European Union, of which our country is a member.
I hope SYRIZA, when it comes to power; this time will not leave its promises only in words and on paper, but will find solutions to the problems of our society, which it has included in the party program, in dialogue with us.
On the other hand, as KINAL Parliamentary Group Chairman Michalis Katrinis said, yes, we are all Greek citizens, but as a minority, we are Turks. Just like the Greek minority living in Albania. Because there is not Christian Orthodox minority, but the Greek minority.”
