Özgür Ferhat slams law: “They are trying to create a minority within the Minority"
Özgür Ferhat, Member of Parliament for Rhodope from the New Left Party, strongly criticized a provision in the omnibus bill submitted by the Ministry of Education, which grants a separate legal status to Bektashi–Alevi members of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority. Ferhat condemned the measure as a “dangerous game” aimed at dividing the minority.
Speaking in Parliament just before the summer recess during a late-night session on the bill, Ferhat stated, “They’re trying to rush through a 160-article legislative package that targets our minority with divide-and-rule policies.”
“THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO DETACH OUR BROTHERS FROM THE MINORITY STRUCTURE”
Ferhat emphasized that the government’s move specifically targets Bektashi–Alevi citizens, who predominantly reside in the Evros (Meriç) region, with the aim of isolating them from the broader minority community and sowing internal division. “This is a deceitful trick,” he said, “designed to pit brother against brother and to set one of God’s creations above another.”
“A VIOLATION OF LAUSANNE, AN ACT OF DIVISION AND IMPOSITION”
Ferhat declared that the bill is in direct violation of the Treaty of Lausanne, which guarantees the collective rights of the Muslim Turkish Minority of Western Thrace. “They are attempting to create micro-minorities within the minority by trampling over Lausanne. This is nothing but division and imposition,” he said.
“THE MINORITY IS A WHOLE AND SHALL NOT BE DIVIDED”
Ferhat concluded by calling for greater unity within the community in the face of such efforts. “Our minority is united and whole. We will continue our political and social struggle with determination. May our fight be blessed,” he affirmed.
