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WESTERN THRACE

A new blow to the educational autonomy of the Turkish community in Western Thrace!

24.02.2021

ABTTF President: “It is impossible for us to accept such appointments by our country Greece which are aimed at eradicating the autonomous status of our madrasahs. We therefore request the decision taken by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs to be cancelled at once.”

The Greek state’s interventions in the educational autonomy of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, in contradiction with bilateral and international treaties is continuing.

Indeed, with a decision signed by the Greek Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Niki Kerameus, there have been appointments made to the councillors’ delegation of the madrasahs in Komotini and Xanthi which belong to the Turkish community in Western Thrace. The decision was published in the official journal dated 8 February 2021.

Appointed deputy muftis whom are not recognised by the Turkish community in Western Thrace have been brought to head of the councillors’ delegations of two madrasahs in Komotini and Xanthi. Moreover, Greek Christian citizens have been appointed to the positions of secretary general of the councillors’ delegations of the madrasahs. The mandate of the councillors’ delegations appointed by the Greek state to madrasahs will be two years.

In the written statement regarding the appointments, the Western Thrace Minority Schools Councillors’ Union indicates the following regarding the appointments: “The Madrasahs are minority schools, the status of the Madrasahs cannot be changed with such fait accompli and Ministerial Decisions.”

“The madrasahs in Komotini and Xanthi are schools with autonomous status belonging to the Turkish community in Western Thrace. In accordance with international and bilateral treaties, as in all other Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace, the councillors’ delegations of our madrasahs should be determined by election. It is impossible for us to accept such appointments of the Greek state which are aimed at eradicating the autonomous status of our madrasahs. We therefore request the decision taken by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs to be cancelled at once and call upon our country Greece to urgently stop its interventions targeting the status of educational autonomy of the Turkish community in Western Thrace”, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).

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