The demonstration in Xanthi is on its 9th day: Western Thrace Turks made Komotini groan
The demonstration of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace against the imposition of shift education at the Xanthi Minority Secondary School and High School left its 9th day behind. Hundreds of Western Thrace Turks made Komotini groan this time with their slogans.
Hundreds of students, parents and representatives of the Turkish community participated in the demonstration which started at 07.30 in the morning in Xanthi, with slogans and red cards in their hands, protesting against the mentality that ignores their just demands. The protest was attended by school students, compatriots from all over Western Thrace, MPs, representatives of associations, business people and candidate councillors in local administrations.
A delegation consisting of the school's Board of Councillors, Parent-Teacher Association, Xanthi MP Hüseyin Zeybek and parents of the students met with Meri Kosmidu, Director of Education of the Eastern Macedonia - Thrace Province and Vasilis Simeonidis, Director for Minority Education, and once again conveyed the demand that all students in the school be educated as morning students.
"Thank you to Stergios Iliopoulos"
Among the politicians who participated in the demonstration in front of the Xanthi Minority High School, Stergios Iliopoulos stood out. In a statement made on its social account, the school's Board of Councillors said: "Today, Stergios Iliopoulos, the candidate for the Presidency of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace with the support of the SIRIZA party, visited the students and parents protesting in front of the Xanthi Minority Secondary School and High School and expressed his support. We would like to thank him." At the beginning of this week, the strongest rival of President Metios, Christodoulos Topsidis, President of the Main Opposition Regional Synthesis List of the Province of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, had attended the action of the Minority High School and supported the Minority and promised to solve the problem.
Hundreds of kinsmen made Komotini groan with their struggle
The struggle against the imposition of shift education at Xanthi Minority Secondary School and High School has now become a struggle that goes beyond the students and parents of the school and concerns all Western Thrace Turks. The action started in Xanthi Minority Secondary School and High School to put a stop to the injustices committed in Xanthi Minority Secondary School and High School started on its 9th day in Xanthi and continued in Komotini.
The school's Board of Councillors, representatives of the Parent-Teacher Association and parents and hundreds of cognates travelled by bus and car to the State Directorate of Education in Komotini and protested in front of the building. The protest was supported by MP Özgür Ferhat, members of the FEP party, religious officials of the Mufti's Office and a large number of cognates.
Region Education Commissioner's behaviour provokes outrage
A delegation then discussed the problem with Vasilis Simeonidis, responsible for minority education at the Directorate of Education. However, despite all the proposals for a solution, the officer showed an extremely bad behaviour against the Turkish Minority. The minority delegation left the hall after the harsh discussions and protested against him with the crowd outside.
Meeting with President Metios in his office
After an extremely ugly reception by the authorities of the Directorate of Education, the angry activists went to the State Presidency to discuss the situation with the President of the State of Eastern Macedonia Thrace, Christos Metios. The Head of State, Christos Metios, welcomed the cognates in front of the building and received a delegation for a meeting in his office. Hundreds of cognates expressed their demands and protested with slogans at the entrance of the state.
The meeting with Metios did not yield any positive developments. Angered by the negative attitude, the crowd booed Metios with slogans and called for his resignation.
Some of the cognates who heard that the problem was not solved stated that they would show their reactions at the ballot box on 8 October.
It was decided to continue the action until results were obtained.
