Issues faced by Turks living in Greece discussed at Symposium in İzmir
The social, cultural, educational, and legal challenges faced by the Turkish community living in Greece were discussed in detail at a symposium held in İzmir on Friday, Dec. 19.
Titled “Problems of Turks Living in Greece,” the symposium was jointly organized by the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association; the Rhodes, Kos, and Dodecanese Turks Culture and Solidarity Association; Ege University’s Atatürk’s Principles and History of Revolution Research and Application Center; and the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB). The event brought together academics, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders concerned with minority rights, and featured extensive evaluations of the issues at hand.
Participants from Western Thrace included Komotini Mufti İbrahim Şerif, President of the Western Thrace Turkish Teachers’ Union Aydın Ahmet, President of the İskeçe Turkish Union Kerem Abdurahimoğlu, President of the Komotini Turkish Youth Union Sedat Hasan, and General Director of BAKEŞ Pervin Hayrullah.
Hosted by Ege University, the symposium examined the problems faced by Turks living in Western Thrace and the Dodecanese in areas such as identity, education, religious freedom, property rights, and freedom of association. Expert speakers provided insights into the historical background of these issues while also offering assessments of current developments.
Speakers emphasized that the rights of the Turkish community in Greece are guaranteed by international treaties, but highlighted the obstacles encountered in the implementation of these rights. Structural problems in education, the situation of minority schools, and restrictions on religious freedoms were discussed in detail with concrete examples.
Participants noted that the symposium served not only as a platform for identifying problems but also for discussing potential solutions. They underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation between civil society organizations and academic circles, adding that such scholarly gatherings contribute to raising awareness within the international community.
The symposium concluded with a question-and-answer session and general evaluations. Attendees expressed hope that similar events would be organized in other cities in the future.
