Strained relations and symbolic significance: President of Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association denied entry to Greece
The President of BTTDD, who is originally from Koyunköy in Xanthi, was turned back from Kipi Customs Gate today (Tuesday, 15 August) while coming to his hometown. It was stated that the President of the Association Hasan Küçük was given an "Inadmissible Passenger Form". Küçük had to return to Türkiye.
While no official statement has been made by the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association so far, Mehmet Hasanoğlu, the 2nd President of the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association, first announced the incident on his social media account.
Greece had previously imposed the traditional entry ban on the Presidents of the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association. Greece also imposes an entry ban on Abdullah Eren, President of Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), who is from Western Thrace.
Unfortunately, the mild relations between Türkiye and Greece do not reflect positively on Western Thrace Turks. Greece continues to read what it knows about Western Thrace Turks.
The fact that the Greek entry barrier to the BTTDD President coincides with the day of the ritual in the Sumela Monastery also causes question marks in the minds.
