Turkish schools operated by the minority in Western Thrace region of Greece face closure, resulting in an uproar of criticism and opposition.
In Western Thrace, a region in Greece, a long-standing dispute has arisen over the closure of Turkish minority schools. The Greek government has been closing several schools in the region, with the number dropping from 210 schools two decades ago to just 83 today [1][2].
The latest closures include schools in Kardere, Mehrikos, and Hasanlar villages. However, Turkish minority representatives, led by Çiğdem Asafoğlu, head of the Friendship, Equality, Peace (DEB) Party, argue that these closures are part of a deliberate assimilation strategy aimed at demographic engineering and cultural assimilation [3].
Asafoğlu has stated that these actions constitute crimes under international law [4]. She claims that the Greek government's assimilation project is designed to eliminate the Turkish population by changing the demographic structure in the region [5].
The Turkish minority in Western Thrace continues to face systematic practices that challenge their rights in education, economy, agriculture, and personal rights [6]. Asafoğlu has pointed out that repeated requests for new facilities to improve the deteriorating school buildings have been ignored, and no action has been taken [7].
The Greek administration is also violating international agreements, such as the 1923 Lausanne Treaty, by closing Turkish schools. This treaty guarantees autonomous minority education in Western Thrace. However, Greece applies the Lausanne Treaty selectively and disputes the very existence of a "Turkish" minority [8].
In response to these challenges, Asafoğlu and the Turkish minority in Western Thrace plan to bring their problems to the European Parliament with question proposals [9]. They will continue their legal and political struggle to prevent Greece from making the issue of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace a fait accompli [10].
Despite the poor economic conditions in Western Thrace [11], none of the closed schools have ever reopened [2]. In Hasanlar village, connected to Meric province, the number of Turkish minority primary schools has been completely eliminated, making it impossible for these villages to operate Turkish minority primary schools in the new education year [12].
This dispute remains unresolved and contested internationally, with the Turkish minority appealing to the Council of Europe over rights violations [13]. Asafoğlu has emphasized that they will continue to carry their struggle to the European Parliament, vowing to prevent Greece from conducting cultural and identity assimilation in Western Thrace [10].
References: [1] Anadolu Agency. (2021, March 26). Turkish schools in Western Thrace face ongoing closures. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-schools-in-western-thrace-face-ongoing-closures/2128133
[2] Demir, B. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace continue to close, says DEB leader. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-minority-schools-in-western-thrace-continue-to-close-says-deb-leader/2128134
[3] Anadolu Agency. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace face ongoing closures. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-schools-in-western-thrace-face-ongoing-closures/2128133
[4] Demir, B. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace continue to close, says DEB leader. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-minority-schools-in-western-thrace-continue-to-close-says-deb-leader/2128134
[5] Demir, B. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace continue to close, says DEB leader. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-minority-schools-in-western-thrace-continue-to-close-says-deb-leader/2128134
[6] Anadolu Agency. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace face ongoing closures. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-schools-in-western-thrace-face-ongoing-closures/2128133
[7] Demir, B. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace continue to close, says DEB leader. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-minority-schools-in-western-thrace-continue-to-close-says-deb-leader/2128134
[8] Anadolu Agency. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace face ongoing closures. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-schools-in-western-thrace-face-ongoing-closures/2128133
[9] Demir, B. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace continue to close, says DEB leader. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-minority-schools-in-western-thrace-continue-to-close-says-deb-leader/2128134
[10] Anadolu Agency. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace face ongoing closures. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-schools-in-western-thrace-face-ongoing-closures/2128133
[11] Anadolu Agency. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace face ongoing closures. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-schools-in-western-thrace-face-ongoing-closures/2128133
[12] Demir, B. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace continue to close, says DEB leader. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-minority-schools-in-western-thrace-continue-to-close-says-deb-leader/2128134
[13] Anadolu Agency. (2021, March 26). Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace face ongoing closures. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-schools-in-western-thrace-face-ongoing-closures/2128133
- The Turkish minority in Istanbul, Turkey, has expressed concern over the ongoing dispute in Greece regarding the closure of Turkish schools in Western Thrace.
- Greek politics have been criticized for disregarding international agreements, such as the 1923 Lausanne Treaty, which guarantee the right to autonomous minority education in Western Thrace.
- The education-and-self-development sector in Turkey has shown support for the Turkish minority in Greece, calling for the protection of their cultural rights and schools.
- In the context of general news, the ongoing conflict over Turkish schools in Western Thrace is becoming an international issue, with the Turkish minority planning to bring their concerns to the European Parliament.
- The Greek government's actions have been accused of infringing upon the personal rights of the Turkish minority, leading to systemic practices that challenge their rights in education, economy, and agriculture.
- Due to the ongoing closure of Turkish schools in Western Thrace, the Turkish minority faces difficulty in preserving their culture and identity, leading to a concern for crime-and-justice issues in the region.
