The Pomaks of Western Thrace

[Azalea]

Well, Pomaks are not a real minority. They are more of an ethnographic group of the Bulgarian ethnos.

Half of the Bulgarian names aren't Christian. This religious bullshit was in the minds of the muftis only.

The process was aimed at homogenisation of the population that's for sure.

Which is just another way of saying that there was an assimilation process going on (forcefully).

[Azalea]

That holds true for the Pomaks in Greece and a very small fraction of those in Bulgaria.

Actually, I was speaking about the Pomaks in Bulgaria. Like I said, it was a study done about the ethnic identify of the Pomaks before and after the communist area. I'll find the study and show it to you.

[poiuytrewq0987]

I am not proving anything, I am trying to explain what's been written in this study. It's the study that says that a good part of the Pomaks identify with Turks or even as Turk.

The study also mentions the reason why Pomaks in Western Thrace identify as Turkish.

Most Pomaks have today a double identity: an ethnic Pomak and a national Turkish one (see Dede, 1994:13). This assimilation into the Turkish nation was certainly helped by the Greek state’s decision, in 1951, to introduce Turkish-language education for Pomaks in an effort to distance them from Bulgarians.

The Greeks apply their racism on Bulgarians here but this time they did it to assimilate Bulgarian Pomaks into Turkish identity rather than Hellenize them.

But, it is believed that the main reason for the Muslim minority’s homogenization has been the Pomaks’ feeling that through their identification with Turks they would no longer be a minority into a minority, or have no one to defend their rights.

Same story in Aegean Macedonia where Macedonians are constantly discriminated unless they self-Hellenize to avoid mass-discrimination if they ever want the hope of getting equal treatment, make a good life, etc. The Greeks, once more, have shown they are the biggest racists on the Balkans.

[morski]

Which is just another way of saying that there was an assimilation process going on (forcefully).

Yes, that was the whole idea of the operation. But it was not religious as you imply, on the contrary - it was anti-religious.

[Azalea]

Yes, that was the whole idea of the operation. But it was not religious as you imply, on the contrary - it was anti-religious.

It was communistic so anti-religious, ofcourse. But you can not deny that the main goal was to assimilate these people into the mainstream Bulgarian ethnicity, which had a obvious and firm Christian character. It's no suprise that the names given to the muslims had a Christian character also. So no, there was no operation to 'Christinise' the muslims, but with Bulgarifying them, you are already Christinizing them indirectly.

[morski]

It was communistic so anti-religious, ofcourse. But you can not deny that the main goal was to assimilate these people into the mainstream Bulgarian ethnicity, which had a obvious and firm Christian character. It's no suprise that the names given to the muslims had a Christian character also. So no, there was no operation to 'Christinise' the muslims, but with Bulgarifying them, you are already Christinizing them.

That's nonesense, since the state was officially secular and hostile to any religion and the new names given to the Muslims were probably around 50\50 Christian\Non-Christian.

I'm not denying anything. I'm well aware of the op and why it was carried on. And I remember the long lines of cars going South as well.

[Onur]

The Greeks apply their racism on Bulgarians here but this time they did it to assimilate Bulgarian Pomaks into Turkish identity rather than Hellenize them.

There was a reason for that.

Actually Greek state are doing everything to separate Pomaks from Turks but they prefer them to get educated in Turkish instead of Bulgarian. As much as they hate, they have to do that because if they start Bulgarian education in Greece, then there is a danger of slavic speaking Macedonian population to apply these Bulgarian schools instead of Greek one.

So, they have chosen the "lesser evil" for the Greek state and they prefer 15.0000 Pomaks to get educated in Turkish rather than indirectly causing a million of slavic Macedonians in Greece to send their children to Bulgarian schools. If they would do that, then they would shoot their own foot with this action.

[Onur]

I am following western Thrace media and i read a lot of articles about Pomaks. Karazaferis and his gang in LAOS party were saying that Pomaks should be set free from the "grasp of Turks"!!! They also have few pro-Greek Pomaks with them and founded associations for Pomaks and they spread stupid propaganda like they were supposedly an ancient Hellenic tribe!!! They did same for christian Gagauz Turks in Greece and now they aim for Pomaks.

So, atm the word "Turk, Turkish" is still forbidden to use in Greece for any school or association and several people gone jail because of this but contrary, it`s encouraged to use "Pomak"!!!

This is the webpage of a newspaper called "Zagalisa". It`s getting published specifically for the Pomak community in Greece, funded and delivered to the Pomaks for free by fascist LAOS party and Greek government. Ofc it`s full of pathetic claims of Greek propaganda and as usual, never ending Turkish-hate!!!

The articles are in Greek and this is google translation. Here are some of their articles;

Usual fabricated stories of big bad Turks!;

My mother, my own mom
My mother,
Three Turks came
Your daughter to get
Do not let my mom
Turks take to Nineteen year old daughter
growing up In Greek black soil
In Greek green meadow
Red flowers in meadow
Fruit trees and green shadows
How will endure my mom
Turks to get me

After all the folk songs are the songs of the people. Through folk songs that ordinary people of older ages had the opportunity to sing for the suffering, the pains, joys, sorrows, etc. The brutality of the Turks was not limited only to massacre women and children and elders. Those women were by force the Ottomans faced a daily physical and mental rape.

So now everyone should put aside their servility and the Janissaries and replace the genocidal offensive slogan of the Turkish minority of speech and truth: We are proud that we Pomaks!
http://zagalisa.gr/content/pomakiko-...-momtski-kamen

Turks are bad and we Pomaks are not related with them but with the beautiful Hellenes!!!


You Skopians, take your hands off from Pomaks of Greece and Alexander the Great. Both are ancient Hellenic only!!!:

Hands off the Pomaks!

Skopje comedy, Macedonians Encyclopedia
From the old Skopianoi had raised claims against Greek Pomaks of Thrace, claiming that the latter are Islamised Macedonians. On the issue but the "Makedonikis Encyclopedia" by the Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU) FYROM in September 2009, the case became more serious. The Skopje rampant unbridled imagination and are rather difficult to follow.

As for the self-proclaimed Macedonians in Greece, urge them to continue to cooperate with the Turks in Thrace our Genocide (clubs, committees, media) and will soon see the benefits of this fascist cooperation based solely on public hate against Greece.
http://zagalisa.gr/content/kato-ta-x...-toys-pomakoys

Apparently, there are some Makedonski in Greece who cooperate with Turks of western Thrace and these people are bad bad fascist Skopiani who works with evil Turks to create hate against Greece. Hellenic Pomaks condemns both!!!


We, the hellenic Pomaks finally see the light and learn that Ataturk didn't even born in Salonika and this was just a Turkish lie!!!;

THE BIG LIE AND THE REVELATION OF TRUTH! Mustafa Kemal NOT BORN IN THESSALONIKI
The Zagalisa reveals today after a careful site investigation of several months, that the claim of the birth of Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) in Thessaloniki is a big and beautiful TALE, To mock the Turks themselves, but many Muslims in Thrace. A time will prove how easily the Turks used the lie to achieve their goals. But the truth is hidden, and to use their own start saying 'The sun is hidden in the mud! "

In 1934 the Greek government posted outside the house-monkey, a sign which stated that "Here was born Mustafa Kemal. The Turks were happy for the unexpected Greek gift, took monkey-house and then brought monkey furniture and other imitations of the palaces Dolmabahce and Topkapi Istanbul, even ... Kemal clothes and expose more to the museum, giving the impression to visitors of the museum now that the monkey furniture and costumes used in this house by himself Kemal. Kemal's hand never touched these faux furniture…

In many leaves the Turkish-speaking newspapers recorded more often pictures of clubs and minority schools in Thrace, who visited the house ... the great leader! It has become fashionable for each "Turk" Thrace! But the pilgrimage is Monkey Party…

ideological function painted with the pink monkey-house there is a strong and consistently directed more schools and clubs from Thrace to further deepen the consciousness of Turkification Pomaks.

Hmm Okay, we Pomaks also learned that Ataturk didn't even born in Salonika and it was just a plot of Ankara to further Turkify Pomaks in Greece!!! They bought monkey furniture for that monkey house and all the Turks and deceived Pomaks who goes there just joins a monkey party, nothing else!!!


And finally, Greek government advices to all the Hellenic Pomaks to learn this poem by heart!!!:

Born a Pomak
T’ was in a land
I opened my eyes
Where mountains spanned
A grand home small in size

With Alexander the great
I fought alongside
The enemy to abate
And my home to bide

In my earthly pace
I fought the beast
Peddlers of my race
On my race they feast

From my mother’s bosom
I learned a tale
That I’m treated as besom
Behind anyone’s trail

Neither turk
Nor slavic am I
Born a Pomak
A Thracian fighter I cry

The teachings of my parents
And my anscestors’ thoughts
Told me of conquerers in
extinction
Who came with dubious
distinction
Certain strangers…

Wouldn’t allow me to speak along
Nor to sing my own song
In native Pomak to speak
My own language to seek

But I am very proud
And I cry it out loud

That...

My native tongue is Pomak as heir
An important heritage to bear

http://zagalisa.gr/content/born-pomak

This is good for shits and giggles but you can clearly see their intention. They wanna make Pomaks hostile to the Turks of Thrace, christian Macedonians and Bulgarians too. They are trying to hellenize them by fabricating stupid stories.

[Bugarash]

Pomaks are pure bulgarians-all the foreign propagandas can only suck it up!

sadly the greek state now forces the learning of turkish in western thracian schools...while their mother tongue is one of the purest dialects of the bulgarian language.

[Queen B]

I am not proving anything, I am trying to explain what's been written in this study. It's the study that says that a good part of the Pomaks identify with Turks or even as Turk.

That's also true.
The Bulgarian state has ''abandon'' Pomaks, while the Turkish state is supporting the Turks. It even support them with cable TV, and stuff like that.
So, instead of getting no support of Bulgaria, some of them, who have no real ''passion'' about their identity, they identify as Turks, not matter if they are Pomaks.

There was a reason for that.

Actually Greek state are doing everything to separate Pomaks from Turks but they prefer them to get educated in Turkish instead of Bulgarian. As much as they hate, they have to do that because if they start Bulgarian education in Greece, then there is a danger of slavic speaking Macedonian population to apply these Bulgarian schools instead of Greek one.

What you say it makes absolutely NO sense. If Greek state was doing everything to seperate Turks from Pomaks, they would have quite a lot of Pomak/Bulgarian schools, instead of teaching Turkish.

So, they have chosen the "lesser evil" for the Greek state and they prefer 15.0000 Pomaks to get educated in Turkish rather than indirectly causing a million of slavic Macedonians in Greece to send their children to Bulgarian schools. If they would do that, then they would shoot their own foot with this action.

Yeah- I have seen the ''millions'' in the elections or the celebrations/festivals.

Even with daily buses from Skopje are not more than 5.000

I am following western Thrace media and i read a lot of articles about Pomaks.

All of the articles you posted from there were completely bullshit
From the ''supermarket'' which was in fact a donation center and from the Samaras video, which has nothing to do with the translation you posted

Don't make yourself a clown, my fellow moderator