The struggle for 'Turkishness' against Greece in Western Thrace
Greece banned the use of the word "Turk" in associations and foundations, saying "there are no Turks in Western Thrace". It continues its oppressive policies by closing schools. Western Thrace Turks struggle for 'Turkishness' against Greece Western Thrace Turks resist against Greece's oppressive policies...
Greece will close four more Turkish minority primary schools in Western Thrace, where Turks live densely, on the grounds of lack of students.
While the Greek side claims that this is not a "closure" but a "suspension" practice due to lack of students, the parents of kinsmen see this as a step aimed at sending minority students to Greek public schools.
While the number of Turkish minority primary schools that have been systematically closed since 2011 on the grounds of insufficient number of students has been steadily increasing, the number of minority schools that continue their activities in Western Thrace will be 86.
In 1995, 231 minority schools were operating in Western Thrace.
Greece does not comply with the Treaty of Lausanne and education protocols
Greece does not comply with the Treaty of Lausanne and education protocols.
Greece did not allow the increase in the number of minority secondary and high schools, which are insufficient in number, and prevented the construction of a new building for the Xanthi Minority High School.
One of the biggest violations in the field of education in Western Thrace takes place in compulsory kindergarten education.
Kindergartens became compulsory gradually, first in pilot regions and then throughout Greece.
The Greek state stated that "there will be monolingual education in kindergartens only in Greek."
"We will continue to protect the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace"
Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stand by the Turks all over the world.
In his speeches both with Greek authorities and in international arenas, President Erdoğan emphasizes the rights of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace and underlines that he stands by them:
"As Türkiye, I would like to emphasize here again that we will stand by our brothers and sisters in Western Thrace with all our means. We also benefit from our developing dialogue with Greece in terms of protecting the rights and laws of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace. In our meetings with the Greek authorities, the problems of our compatriots in Western Thrace are at the top of our agenda.
In particular, issues related to freedom of religion and worship and education rights are under our constant follow-up. We follow all the steps taken by Greece and intervene when necessary. God willing, we will continue to take care of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace."
President Erdoğan: We follow all steps of Greece and intervene when necessary.
We will continue to take the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace under our wing from now on.We have discarded Athens' oppressive policy against the Turks of Western Thrace as a historical process.
1923: Turkish-Greek Population Exchange
On January 30, 1923, the Turkish-Greek Population Exchange Agreement was signed. 'As of May 30, 1923, Muslims and Turks of Greek nationality in Greece and Christian Orthodox Greeks of Turkish nationality in Türkiye will be subject to immigration'.
According to the agreements to which Turkey and Greece are parties, the Turkish population in Western Thrace and the Greek Orthodox population in Istanbul, Gökçeada and Bozcaada were excluded from the compulsory exchange between the two countries.
Greece cannot digest the "Turkish" presence in Western Thrace
The Lausanne Peace Treaty granted the Turkish community in Western Thrace "minority" status.
Although almost 100 years have passed since the Treaty was signed, Western Thrace Turks are still struggling with Greece in terms of education, identity, religion, language and culture.
The calendars showed November 4, 1987. Greece banned the use of the word "Turk" in associations and foundations, saying "there are no Turks in Western Thrace".
The Greek judiciary upheld the ban and ordered the closure of the "Western Thrace Turkish Teachers' Union" and the "Komotini Turkish Youth Union".
Dr. Sadık Ahmet, the leader of Western Thrace Turks, was sentenced to prison again in 1990 for calling Western Thrace Turks "Turks".
"If being a Turk is a crime, I repeat: I am a Turk and I will remain a Turk"
Thousands of people flocked to the court of Dr. Ahmet in Komotini, who made one of the most famous declarations before going to jail by saying "I am being taken to jail only because I am a Turk.
If being a Turk is a crime, I repeat: I am a Turk and I will remain a Turk" and chanted "We are Turks" slogans outside the building for support.
Historic Muslim cemetery in Western Thrace destroyed
The Muslim Turkish Cemetery in the village of Horozlu in Xanthi, where Western Thrace Turks live, was razed to the ground by Bulustra Municipality.
Bulustra Mayor Yorgos Tsitiridis destroyed the historic cemetery in order to build a sports facility and a playground in its place, arguing that the area belongs to the municipality.
Greek authorities do not allow Muslim cemetery
Greece does not allow a mosque for the Muslim minority in Alexandria near Thessaloniki.
Turks have difficulties not only in finding places of education and worship, but also in finding cemeteries because Greek authorities do not allow Muslim cemeteries.
For years, funerals have been buried in cemeteries hundreds of kilometers away.
"The call to prayer is under threat"
Ahmet Mete, the Elected Mufti of Xanthi, who died in recent years, shared that the Muslim Turkish minority in Western Thrace was under pressure in terms of its fundamental rights and freedoms:
"There is a Turkishness in Western Thrace. The way to keep this Turkishness alive is to recognize, support and talk about it. I want to say this to all those who say 'I am Turkish', I want to say this to those who say 'I am Muslim'. There is Islam in Western Thrace, there are mosques, schools, call to prayer, but all of these are under threat."
Source: Ayşe Şimşek-TRTHaber
