Provocative Statement by 'Spartakos' List Targets Turkish Minority in Komotini Municipality
"Spartakos" List, represented in the Municipality of Komotini and known for its extreme nationalist views, has once again provoked the peace of the community by targeting the mother tongue of the Turkish minority and the wearing of headscarves.
In their provocative statement, "Spartakos," known for its inflammatory radical nationalist remarks, objected to Turkish-speaking and headscarf-wearing Turkish minority doctors and healthcare workers working at the Komotini State Hospital.
The statements, which threaten the harmony and peace of citizens from different languages and religions in Western Thrace, have been met with reactions in the Turkish Minority public. Rıdvan Molla İsa, a Member of the Komotini Municipal Council and the Chairman of Nestoras Çanaklis Anonymous Company, regarded these attacks on the values of the Turkish Minority as an attempt to "disturb the peace of the community."
"In which country is the Komotini Hospital operating?" In their statement titled "In which country is the Komotini Hospital operating?" Spartakos claimed that the Turkish-speaking Muslim healthcare personnel, who graduated from universities in Turkey, speaking Turkish among themselves and wearing headscarves, have disrupted the functioning of the Komotini Hospital. They alleged that the minority healthcare workers speak Turkish among themselves, without concern for whether their Christian colleagues understand these conversations.
Speaking Turkish is referred to as "provocative" behavior "Spartakos," claiming that the number of minority doctors and healthcare workers displaying this provocative attitude is increasing, argued that this causes unrest among non-Turkish-speaking Greeks and endangers the health of patients.
The provocative statement, which can be considered dangerous for the internal and external peace of the country, drew attention to the past recommendation during the administration of Hatzinestoras at the Komotini State Hospital years ago, where healthcare personnel with Turkish as their mother tongue were advised to speak Greek, the official language of the state, while on duty.
The statement by "Spartakos," known for its anti-Turkish Minority discourse in Western Thrace, also highlighted the claim that in recent years, doctors who graduated from medical faculties in Turkey have started working without taking an exam and with little or no knowledge of Greek, only by obtaining equivalence.
Headscarves also targeted in the anti-Turkish statement The statement by Spartakos, which is hostile to the Turkish language, also touched on the headscarves of Turkish women healthcare personnel working at the hospital. Despite various practices worldwide, the statement emphasized that the attire of healthcare workers is subject to certain rules and cannot be changed, alleging that the use of headscarves is prohibited in Greek healthcare institutions and raising the question, "Does Ms. Yamustari, the Hospital Director, not know this?"
"Is Komotini part of Greece or not?" In the statement, it was also claimed that the Greek Ombudsman has a decision stating that the prohibition of headscarves in hospitals does not constitute religious discrimination. The statement mentioned that the Ombudsman's decision was made in consideration of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and claimed that a similar incident that occurred at the Xanthi Hospital a few years ago was closed in accordance with the law within a short period and did not resurface. The statement by "Spartakos" concluded with the question, "Is Komotini part of Greece or not?"
Council Member Molla İsa responds to the attacks Rıdvan Molla İsa, a Member of the Komotini Municipal Council and the Chairman of Nestoras Çanaklis Anonymous Company, made statements regarding the attacks on the values of the Turkish Minority.
In his statement, Rıdvan Molla İsa referred to the saying by Mevlana: "My silence is my dignity; I have a response to every word, but I look at the word to see if it is worthy, and I look at the person to see if they are worthy." He used this beautiful quote to express that silence is dignity and not every word deserves a response.
"Responding is an obligation to some poor, clueless individuals" However, in this beautiful country we live in, it seems necessary to respond to some poor, clueless individuals who do not see cultural and religious differences as a richness, as an advantage. The headscarf is a religious tradition in the Muslim Turkish community in Western Thrace. Furthermore, the Hellenic Republic is a democratic rule of law. As stated in Article 5 of the Greek constitution, "every individual has the right to freely develop their personality and to participate in social, economic, and political life of the state as long as they do not harm the rights of others, violate the constitution, or moral principles."
"Their attempt is to disturb the peace of the community" Moreover, when all our doctors graduate, they take the Hippocratic Oath. They swear to provide proper treatment to all individuals, regardless of religion, language, or race. I wonder if this person can look at the icon of Virgin Mary when entering the Komotini State Hospital? If they can, they should say the same thing to her. Apparently, they once again assume the role of a puppet and try to disturb the peace of this community. Yes, they are right, local elections are approaching, and they need to make themselves seen. The headscarf, mosques, minarets, and our cemeteries are the identity and red line of the minority."
