Greece Minority Schools: Turkish minority schools make slow strides

An MP for Greece's ruling Syriza party says the government is taking steps towards improving education for the Turkish Muslim minority. Under the Lausanne Treaty, Turks were given the right to run their own schools in the region of Western Thrace. But community leaders have long complained their facilities are over-crowded and under-funded as Caitlin McGee reports from Xanthi.

[@dkgamers1385]

Acording the treary of lazanne the Greeks of imbros and tenedos were supposed to stay at their homes with autonomy there were 8.000 Greeks in the island of imbros and 2.000 in the island of tenedos today there are only 700 of them in imbros you kicked them during the Cyprus crisis same goes for the Greeks from instabul

[@levesd3722]

I lOVE it when Turkey mentions the Lausanne treaty. A treaty they have broken numerous times XD

[@levesd3722]

lol

[@dkgamers1385]

At least Greece didn't kick them like turkey did at the Greeks from imbros, tenedos and instabul

[@doublemosasaur5091]

🧠🚮

[@doublemosasaur5091]

Nationalist greek lol

[@aslksalklaslkas]

that's a mistake they are also fascists and rasists. I met people from there

[@kossllan6144]

Why Turks throw Greeks away from Costadinopolis? Greeks they don't do that though!!! I Guess Greeks are more Civilized!! Turkey has to stop threatening the neighbors..

[@mariapetra6056]

The Turkish channel has shown that the education of the minority is another example of its oppression. When Ms Zeypek was asked he said EXACTLY the contrary to what was invoked by the a journalist: 1) We have a left-wing government that defends equal opportunities in education. How; He said or admited that Muslim students are getting lower degrees getting in the greek universities (so is this a mesaure that shows oppression or is it s more favorable and for who?) This ιndeed is a measure favorable to minority children , because it was taken to make an easier way of of studying at a Greek university. Where is the oprression here? The government said Ms Zeybek tries to make equality so the students of the minorite, so they could get with the same graves as ALL the students in all greece that take part to the national exams. To bad...for the reporter because this shows her lies.....

[@raulianes7272]

Look at the Turks complaining! They have never respected minorities. What did they do to the Greeks in northern Cyprus. And to the Kurds?

[@aslksalklaslkas]

yes haha together with their Albanian brothers OMG all these people, so far from civilization

[@jjgreek1]

I wonder how the Greek minority in Imvroz is doing these days? Last I checked there should be over 20,000 Greeks there right? Surely the open prisons and closing of the Greek schools and churches had no affect, right?

[@BarbarossaTheOcean]

What happened to thousands of Turks in all of Crete? What happened to the Turks living in Thessaloniki and all over the Rumelia, disappeared overnight? Even, the Turks living in the Dodecanese and Western Thrace cannot say 'We are Turks' freely because of your tyrannical assimilation policies. Instead, they are forced to say "we are Muslim Greek". If we leave the past aside, Minority schools in Greece are neglected and filthy. Furthermore, the Turkish minority is poor and subjected to racist attacks. On the other hand, the Greek minority in Turkey (like all other minorities living in Turkey) have the best schools, they are getting a quality education, their financial situation is good and they form the elite.

[@BarbarossaTheOcean]

@Lazy Greek Stereotype I thought that someone would come up with such an answer like that. Firstly, Anatolia and the Balkans have been the cradle of countless civilizations for thousands of years. I do not believe that Anatolia and Rumelia have indigenous peoples. I think people living in this geography are genetically related people who speak different languages. Because whatever culture is dominant, it is the one that survives and affects others (eg language, belief, way of life, etc.). I suggest you to read "Imagined Communities" by Benedict Anderson. Secondly, it's funny and absurd to describe the Turks as invaders. Anatolia, the Balkans and the Mediterranean coast was not occupied by the ancient Greeks? Then can we say that the ancient nations living in these regions were destroyed/killed by the Greeks?

[@jjgreek1]

Silly comparison when you know the Turks of Greece were exchanged with the Greeks of Asia Minor. What Greeks in Turkey? You've closed down the seminary at Halki and driven out all the Greeks of Constanitnople because you wouldn't let them practice law and medicine any more. Do you REALLY think we're that stupid? The Greeks of Imvros were there until the 1960s until you started raping them and exposing them to murderous and closing the churches and schools.

[@deumevet]

And they still do, the turkish gov doesnt give a cent to private greek schools yet they still demand greek schools to teach history in turkish, and to hire a turkish as principal

[@BarbarossaTheOcean]

@Corn Flakerr0 The Exchange (Mübadele) happened long after. I am talking about Ottoman Turks who lived in Pelopennese, Thessally and Macedonia regions. Before the exchange, a large group was already murdered (like Siege of Tripolitsa ), the rest fled and very little came during in the 1923 Exchange.

[@pantheon56]

At least they are living in a great country free without major issues Ask the question what ever happened to more than 250000 Greeks of Istambul and the Pontian Greeks and the Greeks from Imvros/Tenedos???? And you are correct 150000 Muslim minority that is thriving includes Turks,Pomaks and Roma not just Turks !!!!! Please learn your facts before making useless propaganda.

[@hazalinka1]

They were also exchanged :) and I came across a couple of Pontic Greeks in Germany with their elder family members you can search for them across the world. But there is still a number of Pontic Greeks in the Black Sea Region. In Gokceada and Bozcada they were also subject to the exchange like Karamanli Turks, who were sent to Greece so these people were not only of Greek origin ! Learn the facts first. Btw what about those Turks of Girit, Selanik,Rodos, Midilli, Semadirek and many more ?

[@dkgamers1385]

@@hazalinka1 a cording the treary of lazanne the Greeks of imbros and tenedos were supposed to stay at their homes with autonomy there were 8.000 Greeks in the island of imbros and 2.000 in the island of tenedos today there are only 700 of them in imbros you kicked them during the Cyprus crisis same goes for the Greeks from instabul

[@eren930]

@@dkgamers1385 why should we keep something that doesnt like us? You guys dont like us... We dont like you

[@levesd3722]

@@eren930 ditto, by the same logic we shouldn't keep the Turks of Thrace ;-)

[@eren930]

@@levesd3722 tbh i think the exchange is about seperating races from Turks, ataturk liked that alot, especially with the kurds after greek departure.

[@КонстантинВениер]

This is Turkish propaganda. There are no Turkish minorities in Thrace, just a muslim Greek minority. If you quote the treaty of Lausanne you should also focus then on the other half of the treaty which protected the hundreds of thousands of Greeks who lived in Constantinople at the time who were subsequently either murdered, raped, beaten and eventually forcefully kicked out from their own homeland...

[@mustafaaustinpowers5748]

Константин Вениер What talking you?U made no noteworthy points whatsoever.

[@Optimusturk]

They are even an armenian minority in Turkey, what are you saying?

[@bakrdemir8656]

NO THEY ARE TURKS AND THEY SAY I AM TURK

[@aslksalklaslkas]

Η Άλωση της Τριπολιτσάς, η ωδή στον Λόρδο Βύρωνα (100 εκατομμύρια ευρώ)

[@gokdenizakbulut3250]

It sad that most people don’t understand that the Ottoman Empire was for all Muslims, Christians and Jews. Why can’t we all reunite and protect each other

[@mariosathens1]

Gokdeniz Akbulut hmmm i am curious if you have ever heared about the special taxes that Christians had to pay in Ottoman era just because they were Christians? Maybe about the massacres of the Ottoman Army when a Christian local group revolted? No thanks, we prefer to read about Ottoman Empire in History books.

[@mariosathens1]

Ali Erkoc hmm and what was the Janissaries Corps? As I have read it was a Corp by Christian young boys!!! We all know that Ottoman Empire put special taxes on Christian populations just because of their Religion. And many Christians adopted Islam (Albanians and others) to avoid the special Ottoman taxes. Many of them were Crypto-Christians and others fully adopted Islam. Well, it is good to be proud of your Empire but as I know none Empire in the World treated well to her none-ethnic populations, the same with the Ottoman Empire. The World faced worst Empires than the Ottoman, but this doesn't mean that Ottoman Empire was an Angel Empire.

[@mariosathens1]

Ali Erkoc In your next comment you will tell me that Ottoman Empire was sending invitations to local people "hey do you want to become parts of the Ottoman Empire?" As I said, maybe Ottoman Empire was better than other Empires of the World, but this doesn't mean that it was a good Empire for none-ethnic Turks. EVERYONE in Balkans knows that Janissaries was young Christian boys who forced to join the Ottoman Army. Every book in every country says the same things about the Janissaries, except the Turkish books because it is not so good for the Fame of the Empire. Finally, do you know many Religious people who adopt another Religion for Fun? We don't talk about TODAY were many people are atheists, non-believers and they don't care. We talk about a period that Religion was very important for the people. And we talk about entire populations who adopted Islam during the Ottoman Era when the Ottoman was the Invaders, not a Humanitarian Organization. It is easy to understand that the Ottomans were giving privileges to those who adopted Islam. Search how many Albanians became Pashas and Local Rulers in Balkans. Especially the Albanians took many things for that. The Ottoman Empire didn't use brutal violence to convert the local Balkan peoples to Islam because as you may know from History the local Balkan Christian populations had Guarantors from time to time, such as Russia (especially), France and G.Britain. And Russia declared war many times to Ottoman Empire using the excuse of protection of the Balkan Christians. As I also know that each time a Sultan started an Invasion he declared a Holy Jihad first, gathering Muslim soldiers from all over the Empire and Jihadists from other Muslim places. And you want me to believe that such an Islamist Empire didn't want to convert local Balkn Christians to Islam in one way or another? So it is not me who I am "brainwashed by the Christian Church", but you who read ONLY Turkish books to take info. I advise you if you want to learn Truths to start watching documentaries or reading books of other countries too, as I watch Turkish, Bulgarian, Serbian documentaries because this is the only way to learn the Truth, away from State propaganda. The Truth IS ALWAYS in the MIDDLE. ... You just adopted the Turkish State Truth. Nothing more, nothing less...

[@ejcash7234]

ΔΑΙΔΑΛΟΣ / Daedalus I'm quite impressed with your knowledge of the Ottoman Empire. I'm in full agreement with you, nobody likes being conquered by a foreign power, whether yesterday, today or tomorrow. Ali Erkoc is a product of state propaganda that has incubated young Turkish girls and boys in the glory of the Ottoman Empire. Too bad they chose to omit the systematic Genocide of Christians in the latest stages of their empire.

[@billaros1338]

There is an old saying in Greece first quoted during the ottoman era. It goes " rather living free for a year ,than living 40 years as a slave". For that is what every christian was in that era. Also what he says about the Janissaries is a fact, babies were taken from their mothers to serve this atrocity that the ottoman empire was. Millions were forced to accept islam or chose to do so to avoid the massive taxation. I don't have a problem with modern day Turks but don't ever expect a Greek to have amy sentiment of love or nostalgia for the ottoman empire.

[@jovan-noble-guy749]

As a Macedonian (from 🇲🇰) I kind of sympathise with the Greeks because of the centuries of Ottoman oppresion that we the Balkans have all faced, but then again, they should consider the oppresion of the Slavic Macedonian minority in middle-north Greece in the 20th centrury, escpecially during the civil war that happened after the Second world war.

[@jongunkim6125]

LOVE TURKEY FROM INDONESIA

[@ΒαγγεληςΝοτης]

It isn't exist Turkish minority in West Thrace only Muslim minority which have three tribes , pomacs , gypsy, and Turkish origin this is from deal of lozan , and if you talking about human rights you must first self criticised about the rights of Christian minorities in Turkey , for example why you don't expect the violence that happens in 1955 in Konstantinopolis to thee greek minority !?

[@eren930]

Whats konstantinopolis???? You need to learn your city names... Repeat after me İstanbul

[@levesd3722]

@@eren930 You need to learn the correct spelling of city names not your asian babble. It is Constantinopolis ;-)

[@eren930]

@@levesd3722 hahaha asian babble, atleast mine sounds better than polipopopplolis

[@eren930]

@Neanderthal After consideration, I am now ok with konstantiniyye, So you guys remember we took it from you 🥱🤫🤫🤫

[@levesd3722]

​@@eren930 hahahaha sounds better? To whom? A Mongol? istibulm lol

[@bobsvagene3021]

They look european not turkish

[@hamoudhabibi1996]

John smith Only Kurds are middle eastern-looking in Turkey, and some Turks who inbred with Kurds in central Anatolia

[@jjgreek1]

Turkic Federation in turkey half your population have Greek DNA and the other half Kurdish

[@maniacgr2617]

​@Cansu Джансу Turks in Turkey are pretty dark skinned and exotic looking. These people even have blue eyes. i spoted a girl

[@Mel-cl7wb]

They look like Turkish in Turkey

[@GAektzis]

I would say that the muslim greek minority in thrace does have only perks and that regular schools for the majority of greek students look dirty, neglected and do not include music lessons.

[@mehmetozturk6249]

Muslim gerek minority hmm ok you mean turkish minority

[@shingosshojiopoulos6608]

@@mehmetozturk6249 nope.Most of them are greek muslims

[@mehmetozturk6249]

@@shingosshojiopoulos6608 any proof ? You even havent got any proof of that and you call them greeks nice brain you have

[@mehmetozturk6249]

@@shingosshojiopoulos6608 they event cant speak greek like their native language but they can speak turkish as their native language and their names are like Mehmet Mustafa Ahmet etc. Not George and Helen

[@shingosshojiopoulos6608]

@@mehmetozturk6249 They learn also greek in their schools and they greek citizens.Most of the speak greek fluently.Also who said they were all turks many of them are iraqis , kurds and many other nationalitys

[@momemoe7520]

What are they doing in poor greece, surely they would live better in Turkey.

[@specialtech3992]

mome moe 1) Greece is not poor 2) Turkey has much lower HDI and Per Capita than Greece so think twice of where they can live better

[@adolfmacgale4115]

@@specialtech3992 nope. The per Capita is the same.

[@specialtech3992]

Adolf MacGale Not even close

[@adolfmacgale4115]

@@specialtech3992 is the same man.

[@specialtech3992]

Adolf MacGale The Numbers will disagree with you, Turkey is below than the Greek one.

[@onlythetruth4039]

They look Greek

[@demiroglu3706]

No they look Turkish.

[@DigoronKavkaz]

@@demiroglu3706 many Turks have slanted eyes. These people are Turkified

[@bakrdemir8656]

they turkishhhh

[@jovan-noble-guy749]

They look like their northern Thracian counterparts, so they look Bulgarian.

[@Evagelopoulos862]

You are a LIAR. the Lausanne Treaty dom't recognise turks in Thrace, only Greek muslim citizens. Τhey are not Turks in accordance DNA TEST.

[@reconscout2238]

According to dna test wast majority of greeks are albanians lol

[@Evagelopoulos862]

@@reconscout2238 Albanians are paleobalcanic population so there are similarities with Greeks in DNA tests. But the muslim citizens of Thrace are not of Turkic origin. The Lausanne Treaty don't recognise a Turkish minority in Greece. YOU CAN CHECK IT.

[@reconscout2238]

@@Evagelopoulos862 Lausanne treaty specifically says that west thracians are turks thats why they were not sent for population exchange and they speak turkish if they were a muslim greeks or pomaks they would speak romeika or bulgarian we did not go on our way to teach turkish to these people they knew it from the start because they are turks

[@Evagelopoulos862]

@@reconscout2238 Are you serious? On the contrary if the west thracians were turks they were sent for population exchange. The Turkish language and Islam were imposed throughout the territory of the Ottoman Empire ,thus acquiring to be free citizens. That's why there are only 4% people of Turkic origin in Turkey. You are from Kurdish, Greek, Persian , and others paleoanatolians origins. Be smart.

[@reconscout2238]

@@Evagelopoulos862 Literally from the lausanne treaty ''turks of western thrace and the greeks of thrace and constantinople'' shall be exempt from the population exchange also the ottomans were never turkic nationalists they never imposed turkish languange the muslim bosniaks and albanians still speak their own languange there is even native greek speaking muslims in turkey even today

[@levesd3722]

LOL, as if they cared about their education XD