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Turkish community in Western Thrace was targeted once again!

08.11.2019

Halit Habip Oğlu: “We demand that the exclusivist populist politics and hostile statements targeting the Turkish community in Western Thrace which lives in Greece for centuries and is part of the society must end.”

Greek politicians continue to target the Turkish community in Western Thrace in their statements on every occasion while the refugee problem occupies the agenda of the country. Haralambos Athanasiu, New Democracy Party MP from Lesbos said, regarding the increasing number of migrants and refuges on the island, that Lesbos will soon become second Rodopi if this situation continues and one third of the island’s population will be Muslim in 15-20 years. 

Halit Habip Oğlu, President of Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) said, regarding the matter, that “we as ABTTF strongly condemn Haralambos Athanasiu, who is currently Vice President of the Greek Parliament and in the past worked as Minister of Justice and Human Rights. Athanasiu considers the members of the Turkish community in Western Thrace who are Greek citizens as a “threat” and “dangerous” by manipulating the refugee and migrant problem for his political interests. He might have forgotten that we live in this land for centuries and are part of the society. Thousands of our community members lost their lives by saying “No” to the Italian occupation of Greece during the World War II. Today, we work hard to develop our country Greece. The problems facing our country Greece are our problems and we can find solutions for these problems only if we work together. Therefore, we demand that the exclusivist populist politics and hostile statements targeting the Turkish community in Western Thrace which lives in Greece for centuries and is part of the society must end.”