The Turkish minority in Western Thrace begins to confront the discriminatory attitude of Greece at an early age
Mehmet Emin Ahmet, preacher of Elected Mufti Office in Komotini and a member of the Executive Board of the Western Thrace Minority Schools Councils for a term, said that Western Thrace children's right to education in their mother tongue was denied and that the lessons that should be given in Turkish were taught in Greek, on the grounds that there were no teachers in higher grades.
Evaluating the problems of the Western Thrace Turkish minority regarding education, daily life, and political representation, Ahmet said to Anadolu Agency (AA) that they are the indigenous and essential element of Western Thrace, with a history of 800 years, unlike Turkish kinsmen who go to Europe to work.
Ahmet pointed out that the rights of the Western Thrace Turks were guaranteed by the Treaty of Lausanne, and stated that many of their rights were violated in different ways.
Explaining that although they had the right to open and operate a minority school, they could not get permission to open a school and that many changes in the curriculum took place against their will, Ahmet continued:
"Unlike the schools in Greece, we have minority schools. Minority schools mean schools that provide bilingual education and have two different curricula but are entirely minority-owned. The administrative and educational staff of these schools are both Greek and Turkish, but to develop regulations and keep up with the times. Some courses were taken from the Turkish curriculum to the Greek curriculum for the Turkish curriculum. Sometimes there is an arrangement and you see, 'The subject teacher will give this course, do you have it? No. Then let the Greeks give it for now, we'll see later.' It was said and the staff left, and never came back. There is a situation against us."
Stating that when the minority school administration or parents have problems with Greek teachers, their complaints are not taken into account, "National Education can make a teacher at the same school principal one year later, instead of punishing a teacher you complained about for harassing children and using violence" he said.
Noting that minorities face many bureaucratic obstacles when they want to do activities in their own schools, "As the owners of the school, we cannot say 'OK' when we want to make a program that will benefit the school and contribute to the education of our children. We have to get permission from the state units. We do not do anything illegal, but not being able to use the opportunities specified in the law and the lack of goodwill when putting forward the condition for obtaining permission disturbs us" he said.
Western Thrace children cannot receive education in the mother tongue in kindergarten
Drawing attention to the inadequacy of the physical facilities of the minority schools, Ahmet stated that some Turkish parents send their children to public schools for this reason.
Noting that they had to use the same books for 30 years in some courses, "The books taught at school are now photocopied. With the curriculum 30 years ago, our children had to go to school. Books from Turkey and the content need to be updated, but the two countries gather in the form of commissions and for a long time no conclusion is reached" he explained.
Pointing out that one of the biggest violations in the field of education took place in compulsory kindergarten education, "Kindergartens gradually became compulsory first in the pilot regions and then in all of Greece. Naturally, we expected these kindergartens to be bilingual, but the Greek state said: 'There is no kindergarten in the agreements. Then I am not giving it as bilingual. There will be only Greek education as monolingual.' This should not happen. When we think about reason, logic and human rights, such a result should not come out. Unfortunately, kindergarten was imposed on us in Greek. Our opinion was not asked." he used the phrases.
The religious symbols of the Western Thrace Turks are being interfered with
"Actually, we don't want new rights. If we have rights, that's enough for us." Ahmet said that their rights have been violated with restrictions and new regulations.
Expressing that Greece does not cause problems for Turks to pray in their daily lives, but they have difficulties in areas where the symbols of Islam are accepted, Ahmet said that mufti can be punished for wearing mufti clothes, and that the religious freedom of minorities is interfered with by making appointments to foundations where mosques are managed.
Referring to the problems faced by mosque foundations, Ahmet said that Greece prevented the elections to be held to determine the foundation administration and made appointments to the administration.
Attacking minorities is related to domestic politics
Ahmet drew attention to the fact that the Turkish minority was represented in the Assembly every term, but this representation remained at a symbolic level.
"There is almost no period when a Turkish deputy is not elected to the parliament." Ahmet said:
"But 'What are the powers and possibilities given to the deputy?' If you say, of course, he is working under very difficult conditions.
Pointing out that minorities also face difficulties in the municipal administration, Ahmet said that municipal services are restricted due to bureaucratic obstacles.
Regarding the recruitment of civil servants, "A large number of personnel are employed in the recruitment of civil servants. Most of them are Turkish in the service of Komotini, but how many civil servants are there in the municipality, governorship or state? Their numbers are not enough. The employment of the minorities is very disturbing. It's been 15 years." Ahmet said.
