Turks in Western Thrace being discriminated in every field says Turkish Speaker of Parliament
Discussing "Human Rights Violations Encountered by Muslims" The problems of Western Thrace Turks continue to be voiced.
Mustafa Şentop, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, who participated in the panel via video conference and made a speech, touched upon the human rights violations that Western Thrace Turks are exposed to.
In his speech, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Şentop stated that the socio-economic development of Western Thrace Turks was hindered as a result of repressive policies. Emphasizing that the ethnic identities of Muslim Turks living in Greece are being denied, Şentop said that as the Members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, there should be a strong reaction to these outdated practices.
Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Şentop, regarding the human rights violations that the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority is exposed to in Greece, said, “Another example is the fundamental rights of the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority and the Turkish society living in the Dodecanese Islands, against the Lausanne Treaty and universal human rights norms. and their deprivation of freedom for years, their socio-economic development due to oppressive policies and double standards. The ethnic identities of the Muslim Turkish Minority living in Greece are denied and practices that usurp their right to education are put into effect, their savings on their own foundations are restricted and they are subject to discriminatory legislation in all areas of life. As the Members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, it is of great importance that we react strongly to these anachronistic practices in Greece, where the rights of the Muslim Minority are ignored, and that we continue to show solidarity with our Muslim Turkish brothers and listen to the muftis.”
A comprehensive delegation representing Western Thrace Turks attended the seminar in Istanbul. Chairman of the Advisory Board of Western Thrace Turkish Minority and Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif, Mayor of Kozlukebir Rıdvan Ahmet, Mayor of Mustafçova Rıdvan Delihüseyin, Chairman of FEP Party Çiğdem Asafoğlu, President of Xanthi Turkish Union Ozan Ahmetoğlu, President of Western Thrace Minority Graduates Association Hüseyin Baltacı, ABT President Halit Habipoğlu, BAKEŞ Director Pervin Hayrullah, former Mayor of Mustafçova and journalist-activist Cemil Kabza, BAKEŞ Human Rights and Balkans Specialist Kerem Abdurrahimoğlu, ABTTF International Relations Director Melek Kırmacı Arık and Trakya University Assoc. Ali Hüseyinoğlu participated. Anna Stamou, Representative of the Greek Muslim League, also attended the seminar from Athens.
