Western Thrace Turks criticize Greek Government's reaction to Minister Fidan's support
Western Thrace Turks have criticized the Greek government for its reaction to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's statements of support for the Turkish community in Western Thrace.
Halit Habipoğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), emphasized on social media the importance of Turkey’s unwavering support for the community. “Our homeland’s unconditional support appears to disturb certain circles in Greece who intentionally hinder a positive agenda between our countries,” he stated.
Habipoğlu highlighted that just as Greece supports the Greek minority in Albania, Turkey's support for Western Thrace Turks is natural and called for strengthened bilateral relations.
Minister Fidan, during a budget session in the Turkish Parliament, reaffirmed that addressing the issues of Western Thrace Turks and those in the Dodecanese is a priority in relations with Greece.
Greek diplomatic sources, however, argued that referring to the minority as "Turkish" violates international law, citing the Treaty of Lausanne, which describes them only as a "Muslim minority."
Despite the treaty’s provisions, Western Thrace Turks face systemic discrimination, including issues with education, religious freedom, and political representation. Athens continues to dismiss their demands for recognition of their ethnic identity, leaving approximately 150,000 Turks in the region grappling with unresolved challenges.
