Halit Habip Oğlu: “We do not accept this imposition which disregards the religious and cultural values of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, and which bears the intention of complete assimilation.”
The Greek authorities have moved that the Christian Orthodox religious holiday is also celebrated in minority schools belonging to the Turkish community in Western Thrace, as applied in Greek public schools. The Greek Deputy Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Sofia Zaharaki issued a circular, celebrating the Christian religious holiday known in Greece as “Three Holy Hierarchs Day” in Western Thrace Turkish minority schools. The parents of the pupils and Western Thrace Turkish Minority Schools Councillors Union strongly oppose this unjust imposition which violates existing laws.
“This imposition to celebrate a religious holiday of the Christian faith in Wester Thrace Turkish minority schools attended only by Muslim Turkish pupils is absolutely unacceptable. This circular, which disregards the religious and cultural values of the Turkish community in Western Thrace and aims to completely assimilate the Western Thrace Turkish children and young people should be withdrawn immediately,” said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).
*Photo: www.birlikgazetesi.org
