Western Thrace Turkish Minority Consultation Council

Government & Politics

Greece continues to violate human rights of Turkish minority, says Ankara Turkish brothers living in Western Thrace were never, shall never be alone, says Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu

December 8, 2022   

(Anadolu) Greece does not recognize the Turkish community living in Western Thrace as an ethnic minority, thus violating a major international treaty, Türkiye’s top diplomat said on Thursday. “Greece persistently continues to violate the Lausanne Treaty and basic human rights of Turkish […]

Clerics & Preachers

Türkiye urges Greece to stop denying recognition to elected Muslim clerics Ankara urges Greece to respect rights of Western Thrace Turkish minority to elect their religious leaders, guaranteed by international agreements

September 6, 2022   

(Anadolu) Türkiye on Monday again urged Greece to respect the rights of the Turkish minority in its Western Thrace region and to stop denying recognition to elected Muslim clerics (muftis). Talking to Twitter, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Türkiye expects Greece […]

Clerics & Preachers

Türkiye calls Greek move disclaiming minority Muslims’ local elected leaders ‘unacceptable’ Ankara urges Greece to respect international law, fulfill obligations stemming from Lausanne Peace Treaty on Turkish minority in Western Thrace

August 4, 2022   

(Anadolu) Türkiye on Thursday criticized Greece’s latest move denying recognition to the Turkish minority’s elected Muslim clerics (muftis), calling it “unacceptable.” In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry urged Greece to respect international law and fulfill its contractual obligations under the longstanding […]

Clerics & Preachers

Turkey urges Greece to end pressure against elected muftis in Western Thrace Ankara stands with Turkish minority in Greece in protecting their rights, religious freedoms, says Turkish foreign minister

September 5, 2021   

(Anadolu) Greece must put an end to its interventionist practices and policies of pressure against Muslim religious leaders elected by the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, Turkey’s foreign minister said on Saturday. Mevlut Cavusoglu’s statement came on Twitter after Ibrahim Serif, the […]

Academics & Education

Greece closing 12 more Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace Turkey blasts Greece for closing schools serving Turks in region, saying this violates education rights of minority children

August 2, 2021   

(Anadolu) In a violation of longstanding treaties, Greece on Monday decided to close 12 more schools serving the country’s Muslim Turkish minority, claiming there are too few students. Under an Education Ministry decree, eight schools in Rhodope (Rodop) and four schools in […]

Clerics & Preachers

Turkey’s foreign minister meets Muslim Turkish minority in Greece 'Work of muftis contributes greatly to strengthening of unity, solidarity of Turkish minority,' says Mevlut Cavusoglu

May 30, 2021 and   

(Anadolu) Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday met with representatives of the Muslim Turkish minority in the Western Thrace region of Greece. Arriving in Greece on a two-day visit, Cavusoglu was welcomed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal, Turkey’s Ambassador to […]