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The Turkish community in Western Thrace, which Greece still denies its ethnic Turkish identity, always faces discrimination

24.11.2021

ABTTF President: “We have been exposed to the sharpest discrimination in political, social and economic areas in our country for years. Just as there are Greek-Albanian citizens living in Albania, we live in our country as Greek citizens of Turkish descent, and we want our rights to be respected without being subjected to discrimination.” 

Former Greek Prime Minister and candidate for the leadership of the KINAL Party George Papandreou visited Western Thrace on 20-21 November 2021. Papandreou also met with members of the Turkish community in Western Thrace in Komotini and Xanthi.

During his visit to Western Thrace, Papandreou indicated that as the KINAL Party, they advocate equality before the law and respect for multiculturalism, whereas the state will guarantee that it will treat everyone equally, regardless of their religion and ethnicity.

“Former Prime Minister George Papandreou told reporters in Xanthi that the state should treat every citizen living in the country equally, regardless of religious and ethnic identity, in reference to the Turkish community in Western Thrace, and that everyone is equal before the law. However, Papandreou knows very well that in our country we are always treated as if we were stepchildren, let alone equality before the law, and that we have been exposed to the sharpest discrimination in political, social and economic areas for years. Our Turkish identity is denied, and despite the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, our right to define ourselves is violated by not allowing our associations which include the word ‘Turkish’ in their names. And all of this is happening in our country, a member of the European Union, which claims to be the cradle of democracy. Just as there are Greek-Albanian citizens living in Albania, we live in our country as Greek citizens of Turkish descent and we want our rights to be respected without being subjected to discrimination”, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).

*Image/Source: www.gundemgazetesi.com
 

 
 

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