Western Thracians reject "Muslim Greek" identity, demand ethnic recognition

[Epirus DNA]

They have a right to use their ethnic identity however they want. Turkey is a state and it has a nation inside and the nation is called as “Turkish” nation, not “Turk”. With such mentality, we need to get rid of our all minorities who doesn’t accept being “Turk” let alone being “Turkish” which can be gained with citizenship. They don’t accept the term “Greek” for themselves in ethnical way which is their right. Actually you guys don’t accept them as Greek more than they don’t accept themselves as Greek which is another irony, they are treated like a second-class citizens in Greece.

They don't have to accept the term Greek. They are living in Greece, they pay their taxes, the state considers them Greek. A Muslim Greek Minority. Regardless if other Greeks don't consider them Greek or if they do not consider themselves Greek, the Law considers them Greek.

The USA works the same way. If you're Mexican, and you were born in the USA... guess what, you're an American. If you live in the USA and you don't speak English, only Spanish. Guess what... you're still an American.

[Marmara]

They don't have to accept the term Greek. They are living in Greece, they pay their taxes, the state considers them Greek. A Muslim Greek Minority. Regardless if other Greeks don't consider them Greek or if they do not consider themselves Greek, the Law considers them Greek.

The USA works the same way. If you're Mexican, and you were born in the USA... guess what, you're an American. If you live in the USA and you don't speak English, only Spanish. Guess what... you're still an American.

Then they should be referred as "Turkish-Greeks" not "Muslim Greeks". Turks in Thrace are not just religious, but also an ethnic and linguistic minority.

[Voskos]

The turkish minority in Thrace........

That's an assimilated Kurd or Armenian. Real Turks are white.

[Voskos]

Then they should be referred as "Turkish-Greeks" not "Muslim Greeks". Turks in Thrace are not just religious, but also an ethnic and linguistic minority.

Greece might be refusing this because of the pogroms of istanbul. Or out of fear of another cyprus. It's logical when you think about it...

[Marmara]

Greece might be refusing this because of the pogroms of istanbul. Or out of fear of another cyprus. It's logical when you think about it...

The opposite, what you're doing is provocative, it would cause violence not prevent it. Cyprus was invaded for the same reason, just let people identify however they want.

[Epirus DNA]

Then they should be referred as "Turkish-Greeks" not "Muslim Greeks". Turks in Thrace are not just religious, but also an ethnic and linguistic minority.

They are the leftovers of the Ottomans. I feel bad for them. The same way I feel bad for my Greek brothers trapped in Northern Epirus or Northern Macedonia or on the Ionian Coast.

Regardless of the Turks in Thrace religion, ethnicity, and language... they live in Greece and are consider Greek Citizens. They are not consider Turkish Citizens living in Greece.

[Epirus DNA]

The opposite, what you're doing is provocative, it would cause violence not prevent it. Cyprus was invaded for the same reason, just let people identify however they want.

At some point, these people need to realize they live in GREECE. Regardless of their religion, ethnicity, and language... they live in Greece and are consider Greek Citizens. They are not consider Turkish Citizens living in Greece. These people will start a conflict be encouraging the Turkish state that they need to be saved from Greek oppressors. They live in GREECE.

This same situation is happening to the Greeks in Southern Albania. Albania is telling them they are Albanian, not Greek, because they live in Albania. The difference in this situation is the land is historically Hellenic, not Albanian.

[Kaspias]

This is the modern world where different ethnicities chose to live in countries that are not theirs. If your ancestors invaded a land and you're still there 200 years later but won't assimilate, its your problem. Greece is Greece! If you're living on our land, we can call you a Muslim Greek Minority. If you want to be a Turk, go back to Turkey.

When Turks conquered Thrace the total population of today's Komotini was around 200 people. Major settlement to the Thrace occurred after Edirne became capital(Huge amount of Yörük migration from Western Anatolia to the Komotini-Kardzhali region, and then Karaman migration to the same region)". Then as Bulgarian-Turkish relations getting better Bulgarians also settled there, mixed with Turks, some chunk of Greeks also assimilated and mixed with Turks. Turks built these cities and became the native population since the beginning since these lands were empty. The only trump card of Greeks was coastal part of Alexandroupoli. And Greek population of Thrace(around 80%) came from Anatolia, also Greek government even brought Russians(10% of Komotini now) here to mask Turks.

If your ancestors invaded a land and you're still there 200 years later but won't assimilate, its your problem.

Our ancestors were in your country for 650 years, and i see that you are not assimilated.

Greece is Greece! If you're living on our land, we can call you a Muslim Greek Minority. If you want to be a Turk, go back to Turkey

I could send a picture of my établi* to you but it is in the Ottoman alphabet -stamped by Greek Government -. I'm sure you know that that document gives us to identify as Turk(applied till the junta regime) and live as Turk in the borders of the Western Thrace. Instantly they changed their mind as if they have never done a treaty with us, and find us guilty for calling ourselves as Turk and put innocent people to jail, even assassinated. They were also in search of a purpose to how to kick Turks from citizenship. There are dozens of case in EU completed and Greece found guilty, still haven't applied the law provision.


The thing here is not being Greek citizen. Yes, we are Greek citizens if you want to hear it, i can say sincerely. But on the other hand, the thing the government pushes for years is not the meaning of just being a citizen. We are Turks and we will remain as Turks. We haven't chosen to live in Greece borders, Thrace has been our home since the beginning. If they want to control it then they should also respect us. We could go with separatism after living such things. But we still recognize administration right of Greece and try to be normal citizens of the country with our own name and identification.

*Document was given to Turks after Greek and Turkish agreement on the situation of Western Thrace Turks in 1926. Protects the rights of Turks which includes identification.

[Voskos]

The opposite, what you're doing is provocative, it would cause violence not prevent it. Cyprus was invaded for the same reason, just let people identify however they want.

In an ideal world yes.

But in reality the Turkish community in Cyprus was recognized. And guess what happened once Greeks tried to annex the island: Turkey had the right to intervene...which it did. And here we are.

[Epirus DNA]

became the native population since the beginning since these lands were empty.

Invade a land, mass murder it's population and then say "since the beginning these lands were empty" so now they belong to you? This is backwards AF and you are lucky the Greeks did not fully repay the Bulgarians and Turks for their atrocities.

Our ancestors were in your country for 650 years, and i see that you are not assimilated.

Your ancestors should have been put to the sword after 650 years of rape, theft, and murder. Assimilate to an invader and oppressor? I don't think so.

The thing here is not being Greek citizen. Yes, we are Greek citizens if you want to hear it, i can say sincerely. But on the other hand, the thing the government pushes for years is not the meaning of just being a citizen. We are Turks and we will remain as Turks. We haven't chosen to live in Greece borders, Thrace has been our home since the beginning. If they want to control it then they should also respect us. We could go with separatism after living such things. But we still recognize administration right of Greece and try to be normal citizens of the country with our own name and identification.

You're ethnic Turks living in Greece and are Greek-Turks living in Thrace. If you want to be Greek-Greeks, convert and assimilate. If you want to be Turk-Turks, move out. If you enjoy being a Greek-Turk, then stop complaining.

SINCE THE BEGINNING? The land is Greek. It does not belong to you. You are allowed to stay because the military couldn't cleanse the land from the invaders and oppressors that enslaved and defiled Hellas.