'Our motherland's embrace of the Turkish community in Western Thrace has again caused discomfort in our country'
In a statement released by ABTTF, it was reminded that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his speech at the AK Party Group Meeting of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the death of the late Dr. Sadık Ahmet, the leader of the Turkish community in Western Thrace.
On the anniversary of the death of the late Dr. Sadık Ahmet, it was reminded that Türkiye stated that they will stand by the Western Thrace Turks with all their means.
In the statement, it was stated that Greek diplomatic sources, responding to President Erdoğan's statements referring to the Turkish community in Western Thrace, claimed that the members of the Muslim minority in Western Thrace have equal rights and equality and that the issues related to the rule of law and the protection of human rights of Greek citizens are not and cannot be opened to discussion.
ABTTTF President Halit Habipoğlu stated the following on the issue: "Just as our country protects the Greek Orthodox minority in Albania and the Greek Orthodox minority in our homeland, just as the rulers of our country visit Greek schools during their visits to Istanbul and Gökçeada, it is natural and normal for the president of our homeland to protect us by protecting the rights of our community, and for the deputy minister of our homeland to visit Celal Bayar Turkish Secondary School and High School during his visit to Western Thrace. Our motherland shows our community that we are not alone. Moreover, at the request of the Prime Minister of our country, Fredi Beleri, who belongs to the Greek minority in Albania, was nominated and elected in the European Parliament elections from the list of the ruling New Democracy Party. But when our motherland stands up for us, defends our Turkish identity, rights and freedoms, it is called incitement. Our country must put an end to this double standard. We are citizens of this country and as we have always said, we believe that there is no problem that cannot be solved as long as there is dialog and goodwill.
