Greek State Sponsored Ethnic Genocide Against Macedonians April 27, 2009
Posted by Yilan in Macedonia.Tags: Makedonca, Makedonya, Yunanistan
4 comments
Below is an example of how the Greek state implements its policy of ethnic genocide.
Translation: —————————— TOP SECRET MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE Athens, 16 February 1982 Number of protocol 6502/7-3042 INTRODUCTIONS a. The Skopians’ activities for the autonomy of Macedonia may be efficiently confronted mainly by wiping out the use of the idiom, in the regions near the borders. This opinion is based on the realizations that also other regions that in older times were the center of “Macedonism”, like Kastoria, are not hit by the Skopian propaganda, because there the use of the idiom has been almost wiped out. b. This element by itself would be enough to exclude any thoughts of repatriation of the P/R (political refugees) who now reside in Yugoslavia and who have been brought up with the “Macedonian idea”, the “Macedonian language and culture”, independently of their participation or not to the organizations SNOF, NOF and activities taken for detaching Greek territories, during the period 1946-1949. c. As for the above it is imperative to: 1. The creation of a state institution that will depend from the Prefectures of the regions near the borders, lined with the suitable and specially trained to the “Plot against Macedonia” subject, personnel. This institution will engage itself only with this subject, with the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will collaborate closely, but in secret, with the Security Authorities and all the public services (Tax office, Schools, Army, Church, etc.). 2. In the public services and especially in the educational institutions the employees who will be in service have to be ignorant of the local idiom. 3. The establishment of special enlightenment seminaries, for all the public service employees and the clergy who are in service in the sensitive region of Macedonia. 4. The establishment of motivations for the obligatory residence of the public servants and other employees, in the quarters of their service (example: payment of the rent, extra pay, etc.). 5. Establishment of Cultural Association, like “ARISTOTELIS” in Florina and economic help to them, for the realization of events and the publishing of books, newspapers, magazines, etc. and afterwards these will be sent to the Diaspora abroad who has origins from the regions of the senders. This will boost their national sentiment and they will be protected from the anti-Hellenic propaganda that is been practiced by S/M (Slavmacedonians) organizations. 6. Insertion of various obstacles (non-recognition of diplomas, postponement of military service, etc.) for the Greek students who wish to study in Skopje. 7. Marking in each village of persons who, due to their kin bounds and their personality, influence a large circle of co-villagers and with any means (even with money payments) get close to them and use them properly so they will behave as the fighters of the use of the idiom in their circle. To this direction a very positive and effective role can be that of the Youngers of the political parties, by the judgment and coordination of the Government, when a between parties agreement will be reached. 8. Recruitment in the Armed Forces, in Police Bodies, in the public services and Organisms of employees with origins from Florina region, by exception, and their obligatory location in other areas of the Country. 9. The encouragement, by the leadership of the Army, of meetings and marriages of Army officers, who are on duty there and have origins abroad, with women that speak the idiom. (…) THE CHIEF DIMITRIS KAPELARIS ANT/GOS Source of the original document: “SXOLIASTIS” (Political Magazine, Athens, September 1989, N.79) —————————– Administrator’s Note: Be advised that “skopians” and “slavophones” are racist terms the Greek government has created and whose use it promotes to refer to ethnic Macedonians. In the above document “idiom” is used as a euphemism for the indigenous Macedonian language.
Source: www.maknews.com
MEMOIR of a Visit to Australia by Macedonian Human Rights Activists from Egej and Pirin April 21, 2009
Posted by Yilan in Human rights abuses.Tags: Aegean Macedonia, AMHRC, Australia, Makedonca, Makedonya
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 The Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee with the delegation: George Vlahov, Jason Kambovski, Stoyko Stoykov, Chris Popov, Natse Parisis, Dimitri Ioannou, Vasko Nastevski, Tase Filipov, Michael Kochev, Lyubitsa Durlovska, Sasha Nachkovski, John Tsigliev (Charles Gallileos missing) |
From March 24-31, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia, the Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) was privileged to have hosted a visit by Macedonian Human Rights activists from Greece and Bulgaria. Included in this visit were Mr. Natse Parisis and Mr. Dimitri Ioannou, as representatives of the AMHRC’s partner organisation in Greece, Vinozhito, and Mr. Stoyko Stoykov, representing the AMHRC’s partner organisation in Bulgaria, OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN. These activists, and their respective organisations, are at the forefront of advocating for and protecting
Macedonian minority rights in Greece and Bulgaria. We are also delighted to note that this visit was carried out in co-ordination with Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) based in Toronto, Canada – the fourth partner in what has been a bastion of truly internationally united Macedonian co-operation for over two decades now.
It gives the AMHRC, MHRMI, Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN, great satisfaction to report that this visit was a resounding success. All of the aims and objectives of the visit were met, and our visiting Macedonian Human Rights activists, were able to return to their respective positions in Greece and Bulgaria with the knowledge that awareness of, and support for the human rights of Macedonian minorities in Greece and Bulgaria, increased significantly as a result of the visit.
| A gathering in Doncaster |
Primarily, the purpose of this visit was to give the Macedonian community in Australia an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the work undertaken by Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN on behalf of ethnic Macedonian minorities in Greece and Bulgaria. Given the concern of the Macedonian community in Australia for Macedonian minorities in Europe, this visit was an opportunity to inform Macedonians in Australia of the ongoing breaches of fundamental human rights experienced by ethnic Macedonians in these countries. It was also an opportunity for Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN to seek further long-term support for their activities from the Australian Macedonian community.
With these aims in mind the AMHRC designed a program for the visit that would maximise the opportunity for the visiting activists to engage with Macedonian community leaders and concerned Macedonians in Australia. Some of the highlights were as follows:
On Wednesday March 25 our guests were given a rest in order to recover from their long journey to Melbourne. However on Thursday morning they were hard at work. The day began with a 9.00am visit by our guests accompanied by a delegation from the AMHRC, to the Doncaster (a suburb located in Melbourne’s east) Macedonian Pensioners Association. There must have been an attendance of over 400 elderly Macedonians and they gave our visitors a rousing reception.
Natse Parisis appears to be a firm believer in what some social philosophers have termed the “Perspectivist” viewpoint on social forms. He demonstrated this by explaining that moves towards European integration will lead to greater contact amongst Macedonians throughout the Balkans. He very pertinently pointed out, that OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN and Vinozhito are already members of the same European political party – the European Free Alliance (EFA). The response from the crowd, was rapturous, they obviously connected with Natse’s “perspectivism”; and why shouldn’t they have? We, at any rate, can not think of a single reason. The gathering ended with generous promises from the elders, of support for the AMHRC’s Macedonian Minorities Support Fund. A very productive beginning.
From Doncaster, the AMHRC delegation together with its special guests raced
downtown to the studios of 3ZZZ (a major multicultural radio station) for an interview with Itso Naidovski, the host of a popular Macedonian radio hour. Understandably, the interview filled the entire program and Natse, Stoyko and Dimitri excelled in answering questions that required details beyond standard generalisations. A key point was reached when all agreed, that the Greek argument in connection with the name dispute, that is the so-called “confusion” argument, remains nonsensical when it is noted that the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia already obviously possesses a pre-fix, as does Greece’s “Province of Macedonia” – thus there should be no difficulty in distinguishing the two entities, especially as one is a state and the other, a province.
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After departing from the studios of 3ZZZ, the already famously mobile “Delegation”, made their way to the premises of the Macedonian Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, located in Melbourne’s outer northern suburb of Epping. Here, a late lunch was provided and an emotional meeting took place between a “Delegation” and the Association of Macedonian Child Refugees (Detsa Begaltsi). Tears of joy flowed, as Dimitri in particular, spoke about the renaissance of Macedonian culture currently taking place in Greece. Also here, the AMHRC representatives took the opportunity to
explain about the preparations taking place for a class action against the Greek state – that is in relation to the discriminatory laws maintained by Greece against ethnic Macedonian refugees from the Greek Civil War (1946-1949). Crucial to this discussion was the point that we would need to participate in the action involving not just a demand for property compensation, but also a restoration of citizenship. Mr. Yanko Kalinchev, president of the refugee association, responded by pledging support for the AMHRC’s initiatives in this regard.
This very successful day was ended by a dinner with the visitors and the AMHRC. The restaurant was especially chosen for Stoyko, who had a long burning desire to try kangaroo. It was not that easy to locate a restaurant for the purpose – contrary to popular belief, there are not many restaurants in Australia that serve up the national symbol. We are not sure if there is another nation-state that encourages consumption of its national symbol; nor were we sure in the end, about whether Stoyko’s desire, considering his facial expression, might not have been better left unfulfilled…perhaps it was the particular chef’s fault?
On Friday the 27th of March the AMHRC held an all day Human Rights conference in downtown Melbourne. Aside from the AMHRC and the visiting activists, the conference was attended by representatives of numerous Macedonian community groups throughout Australia. These people need to be noted, as they all made useful contributions to the day’s proceedings: Victor Bivell (Pollitecon Publications – an Australian based publisher of books to do with matters Macedonian); Gligor Apoleski (a long time, Sydney based, Macedonian activist); Igor Alexandrov (Macedonian Orthodox community of Sydney, New South Wales); Steve Kostoff and Tom Pisarcoff (Macedonian Orthodox Community of Adelaide and South Australia); Yote Kyandovski and Jim Bivoltsis (Macedonian Orthodox Commmunity of Perth and Western Australia); Sam Ristovski (Macedonian Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria); Vlado Trpchevski (Macedonian Orthodox Community in Sydenham); Yanko Kalinchev and Lazo Kristov (Macedonian Child Refugees); Itso Naidovski (3ZZZ); Margarita Vasileva (SBS Macedonian Radio Program); Lou Stankovski (editor of the Australian Macedonian Weekly and Igor Pavlovski (editor of Today, Macedonian weekly newspaper). Also, we would like to send our thanks to Chris Angelkov (Macedonian Orthodox Community of Perth and Western Australia), who, although not present, was very helpful.
The agenda for the conference was designed to advance an understanding of the status of Macedonians in Greece and Bulgaria, and to discuss strategies to protect and promote the Human Rights of Macedonians throughout the world. The day began with Dimitri and Stoyko each giving highly detailed hour long power point
presentations, that created much food for thought and discussion. Impressive was the news of the considerable expansion of Vinozhito branches in eastern Aegean Macedonia and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN’s legal plans to continue to challenge Bulgaria’s unlawful de-registration of their party.
After a lunch that was served in the conference room, members of the AMHRC (Jason Kambovski, Sasha Nachkovski, Vasko Nastevski, Dr. Chris Popov, John Tsiglev and George Vlahov) informed attendees of their current and ongoing activities. These, among others, include lobbying of the Australian government and involvement in legal action on behalf of Macedonian refugees from the Greek Civil War (Detsa Begaltsi).
It is worth noting that the AMHRC has accepted the task of organising Australian-Macedonian participation in the class action being prepared against Greece. The talks were quite rapid and internet messages even came in at this point from the AMHRC’s International Co-ordinator in Skopje, David Vitkov and also from MHRMI president, Bill Nicholov; the world really seemed to shrink for a transient moment and it set off some staccato typing from the AMHRC’s Media Liason Officer, Lyubitsa Durlovska…a pause was needed.
After a tea break, a constructive open forum discussion ensued. A key point was reached when it was accurately pointed out by Igor Alexandrov, that although Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN are technically political parties; support provided for their activities cannot be considered an act of partisan party politics, for the fundamental basis of their activity involves a struggle for basic human rights, rights that in the West, are regarded as essential and are protected by international law. This was no surprise, as Igor represents a body that has been generously supporting OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN’s newspaper, Narodna Volya. It was after this that the community organisations from Melbourne, Sydenham, Sydney and Perth made out substantial contributions to the AMHRC’s Macedonian Minorities Support Fund. Promises of similar contributions were also made
by the representatives from Adelaide. Lastly, it must be noted that Igor Pavlovski and Lou Stankovski, made considerable contributions to the Minorities’ Fund and all of this kept the AMHRC’s financial managers, Tase Filipov and Michael Kochev, quite, but happily, busy.
The AMHRC would like here to once more take this opportunity to thank the visiting interstate delegates, who travelled from as far as Sydney, Adelaide and Perth to attend. The positive contributions made by all attendees ensured that the conference was a great success, with many important issues discussed and strategies formulated for the effective advocacy of Macedonian human rights in Australia and abroad.
The following evening, Saturday 28th. March, the AMHRC held its annual dinner function at Neret Receptions in Melbourne. This event was important for two reasons. Primarily, it gave the visiting activists an opportunity to engage with the wider Macedonian community. Secondly, the function celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the AMHRC. More than 400 Macedonians (the event was a sell-out) were in attendance to hear the visiting activists talk about the human rights struggles of the Macedonian minorities in Greece and Bulgaria. The activists were very well received by the appreciative audience. Indeed, the visitors were ‘swamped’ like rock stars – at one point Natse had to be ‘rescued’, as he found it impossible to make his way back to his chair…
The function demonstrated that, 25 years after the formation of the AMHRC, the wider Macedonian community is still very supportive of it and the important work it undertakes on behalf of Macedonian minorities. The AMHRC demonstrated its appreciation for this support in speeches delivered by Vasko Nastevski and George Vlahov. They also emphasised the internationally co-operative nature of the AMHRC’s work, as it is carried out, hand in hand with MHRMI.
Apart from a special Macedonian dance, ordered by some members for the AMHRC and the visitors, the highlight of the evening was the auctioning of the EFA flag – skilfully conducted by Jason Kambovski. There were gasps as Lazo Genis ensured his ownership of the prized symbol, with a bid of $2,500.
On the following Sunday the AMHRC held a public meeting at the Preston (an inner-northern Melbourne suburb) Makedonia Social Club. Again, this was a well attended meeting and was a further opportunity for the activists to engage in a more intimate manner, with the wider Macedonian community.
A significant point that was made by Stoyko, Dimitri and Natse at various times on the day, was that as citizens of, and taxpayers in Bulgaria and Greece, there is no question of seeking rights from the Republic of Macedonia – this responsibility belongs rather to Bulgaria and Greece. An important matter that needed clarification, as some members of the community still find it difficult to separate the ethno-cultural, from the politico-legal, citizenship realm.
The meeting wound up with an appeal for new members to join the AMHRC’s Minorities fund and we apologise if this success story is starting to bore our readers, but the fact is, this appeal met with a more than decent response – Gotse Stefanovski’s and Dr. Suzanna Kotevski’s sizeable contributions, need special mention here.
Monday 30th. March, was a day allocated for media interviews – not all of which took place. Greek radio programs declined to accept the opportunity, as did “Neos Kosmos” (New World – the major Greek-Australian newspaper, with a very large circulation). However, sitting with Natse and Dimitri, early on Monday morning at an inner-city Melbourne cafe, we noticed a gentleman a few tables away, reading the Neos Kosmos. ‘Hawkeye’ Parisis quickly spotted that Vino’s visit had made the front page! A copy was quickly purchased and to the surprise of all, it was found that the account was factual…it even quoted accurately from the recent U.N. Report that recommended that Greece give up on trying to argue that there is no such thing as an ethnic Macedonian minority in Greece.
Later, Stoyko was interviewed by the Bulgarian program on SBS radio (the major state sponsored, Australia wide multicultural radio station). Upon being told by the interviewer that Bulgaria was a model democracy, Stoyko responded by concisely re-counting facts to do with the unlawful de-registration of OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN and these, beyond leaving the interviewer in obvious shock, drove her to change tack and begin asking Stoyko about Melbourne’s landscape…
In the afternoon, unfortunately some mainstream journalists pleaded unforseen emergencies and as our visitors were due to leave the next day, time could not be found for re-scheduling. None-the-less, the day ended on a positive note, with an interview between our visitors and Margarita Vasileva and Violetta Yovanovska, hosts of the Macedonian program on SBS radio. As usual, these women came prepared and the final result was a nuanced affair that brought the best out of our guests.
Tuesday 31st. March, D-day; departure. We won’t partake of sentimentality, at the airport, there were some hugs and it was thanks and goodbye.
The AMHRC would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in making these events such a success. The large numbers of people attending these events and the general community involvement is representative of the ongoing concern Macedonians in Australia have for the human rights of ethnic Macedonians in Greece and Bulgaria. It is also indicative of the continuing support the AMHRC has from the Macedonian community for its human rights advocacy work, and recognition that the support (financial and technical) the AMHRC gives to Macedonian minority representatives such as Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN, is essential to ensuring the effectiveness of these organisations.
To be clear, the AMHRC, along with its counterpart organisation in Canada, MHRMI (Macedonian Human Rights Movement International), provide regular and substantial aid to Vinozhito and OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN. As was acknowledged by the visiting activists, without this support, it is likely that neither group would be able to undertake its important work on behalf of the Macedonian minorities in Greece and Bulgaria. It is important that the Macedonian communities in both Australia and Canada recognise this fact by providing ongoing support to both the AMHRC and MHRMI.
Vasko Nastevski on stage at the AMHRC dinner |
* * *
Founded in 1984, the Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) has been working towards achieving human rights for Macedonians and other oppressed minorities. For more information, please visit www.macedonianhr.org.au , or contact AMHRC at +61 3 9460 2910, or mail@macedonianhr.org.au .
Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. For more information, please visit www.mhrmi.org , or contact MHRMI at 416-850-7125, or info@mhrmi.org .
Founded in 1995, EFA-Rainbow is the political party of the Macedonian minority in Greece and is a member of the European Free Alliance and the Federal Union of European Nationalities. For more information, please visit www.florina.org , or contact EFA-Rainbow at 0030 23850 46548, or rainbow@florina.org .
Founded in 1999, OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN is the political party of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria and is a member of the European Free Alliance. For more information, please visit www.omoilindenpirin.org.
Source: http://www.macedonianhr.org.au
GREEK HELSINKI MONITOR April 21, 2009
Posted by Yilan in Human rights abuses.Tags: GREEK HELSINKI MONITOR, Yehudi, Yunanistan
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GREEK HELSINKI MONITOR (GHM)
Address: P.O. Box 60820, GR-15304 Glyka Nera
Telephone: (+30) 2103472259 Fax: (+30) 2106018760
e-mail: office@greekhelsinki.gr website: http://cm.greekhelsinki.gr
PRESS RELEASE
http://cm.greekhelsinki.gr/index.php?sec=194&cid=3451
19 April 2009
Greece Whitewashed by EU Rights Agency on Anti-Semitism
– “Burning of Judas” practice promoted again
Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) considers unacceptable that the official European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) whitewashed Greece in its February 2009 anti-Semitism report. As seen below, FRA reported for 2008 only the convictions in two trials on anti-Semitic texts. Yet, as seen for example in the annual report of the US Department of State (DOS) for 2008, also released in February 2009, whose excerpts on anti-Semitism are reprinted below, there were also incidents of vandalism of Jewish monuments, while the anti-Semitic Easter tradition of the burning of a life-size effigy of Judas continued unhindered. The DOS report does not report moreover the various anti-Semitic texts published in Greek newspaper.
GHM stresses that the FRA underreporting reflects a long tradition of its predecessor EUMC and of FRA to consistently underreport Greece’s problems related to national minorities, Roma and anti-Semitism. Thus, FRA reflects the official state attitude and the nearly identical attitude of many supposed “civil society organizations” to deny or underestimate human rights violations in these areas.
GHM would also like to note that, in the DOS [Dept. of State] report it is claimed, that “the government formally condemned vandalism and all expressions of anti-Semitism.” GHM asked a human rights officer of the US Embassy to provide a reference for such claim but none was provided simply because it did not exist.
Again, reports by DOS and supposed “civil society organizations” consistently report a supposed government condemnation of anti-Semitic incidents which, in most cases, was non-existent or reflected the fact that when queried by the report writers the state provided to them, and only to them, such a statement.
Moreover, from late December 2008 on, following the Israeli attacks on Gaza, there were widespread anti-Semitic incidents in the media but also in Jewish monuments: GHM reprints below a related Central Board of Jewish Communities report, with the note that several references in it formally reflect anti-Israeli rather than anti-Semitic attitudes, but it is true that in most of those cases there is a plausible suspicion of an anti-Semitic motivation behind the anti-Israeli protests.
Finally, in this year’s Ester period, there were references in most media to the widespread practice of the “burning of Judas” with pictures from the events often taking place alongside the church “Resurrection” or other religious services, explanations of its meaning, occasional mentions that it is also called “burning of the Jew,” and even invitations to such events by local associations and churches. GHM provides below references to the practice in the country’s six largest newspapers and two of the three most read information blogs:
Apogevmatini: http://www.apogevmatini.gr/?p=21530
Eleftheros Typos: http://www.e-tipos.com/newsitem?id=85909
Eleftherotypia: http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.ellada&id=35191
Ethnos: http://www.ethnos.gr/article.asp?catid= … d=3158774#
Kathimerini: Easter Sunday insert magazine “K” pages 12-13 not available on line
Nea: http://www.tanea.gr/default.asp?pid=41&nid=1004922
Troktiko: http://troktiko.blogspot.com/2009/04/bl … _1537.html and http://troktiko.blogspot.com/2009/04/bl … _6790.html
Zougla.gr: http://www.zougla.gr/news.php?id=34897
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Anti-Semitism
Summary overview of the situation in the European Union 2001-2008
February 2009
FRA Working Paper
[…]
Greece
In March 2008 an Athens court convicted the publisher, the editor and the columnist of a far-right weekly for hate speech against Jews30 according to anti-racist criminal law n.927/79. This is the second conviction within a few months, the first concerning the publication of an anti-Semitic book. On 18.9.2008 the Athens 1st Court of Appeal confirmed the ruling.
U.S. Department of State
2008 Human Rights Report: Greece
February 25, 2009
[excerpts on anti-Semitism]
According to local leaders of the Jewish community, there were approximately 5,000 Jews living in the country. Expressions of anti Semitism continued to occur, particularly in the extremist press. The mainstream press and public often mixed negative comments about Jews with criticism of the Israeli government. Giorgos Karatzaferis, the leader of the ultra right political party LAOS, publicly stated that the party was not racist or anti Semitic but frequently denied that the Holocaust occurred and accused “the pope and the Jews” of a conspiracy against the country.
There continued to be reports of vandalism of Jewish monuments during the year. In May a gravestone was broken and a large amount of broken glass was spread in the alleys and around the graves of the Athens Jewish cemetery. In August an anti Semitic video boasting about the vandalism of the Holocaust memorial of Rhodes was aired on YouTube. In December anti Semitic graffiti protesting Israeli military action in Gaza appeared on the walls of the synagogue in Volos. The Jewish community protested these incidents, and the government formally condemned vandalism and all expressions of anti Semitism.
Unlike the previous year, state tourism and media agencies did not advertise the Easter tradition involving the burning of a life size effigy of Judas, sometimes referred to as the “burning of the Jew.” The traditional practice continued to occur in some parts of the country but was generally labeled the “burning of Judas” instead. The Jewish Community continued to protest anti Semitic passages in the Greek Orthodox Church’s Holy Week liturgy. The Jewish community reported that it remained in dialogue with the Orthodox Church about the removal of these passages.
The GHM and the Central Board of Jewish Communities brought charges against the newspaper Eleftheros Kosmos and former LAOS political party candidate Kostas Plevris for racism and anti Semitism. In December 2007 Eleftheros Kosmos was acquitted, but Plevris received a 14 month suspended sentence for inciting hatred and racial violence with his book The Jews The Whole Truth. The book denied the Holocaust and called Jewish people “mortal enemies” and “subhuman.” During the trial a group of neo Nazis made Nazi salutes in the corridors of the courthouse, put up “fans of Hitler” posters, and handed out anti Semitic leaflets. Plevris appealed the sentence; the trial had not begun by year’s end.
On March 5, the misdemeanors court of Athens sentenced three journalists of Eleftheros Kosmos to seven month suspended sentences for insulting Jews. The journalists appealed the sentence. In September the appeals court unanimously changed the terms from seven to five month suspended sentences. In September an Athens appeals court sentenced the publisher and a former columnist of weekly newspaper Eleftheros Kosmos for anti Semitism in a March 2006 column. The columnist had criticized Thessaloniki’s small Jewish community, decimated during the Holocaust, writing “thank God, less than 1,500 are left.” Each defendant was given a five month suspended sentence. [GHM note: the whole paragraph concerns the same case but is repeated twice as if it were a different case.]
In December, after the start of Israeli military action in Gaza, the left of center newspaper Eleftherotypia printed anti Semitic cartoons and satire, joining smaller extremist publications that compared Jews to Nazis or held them responsible for actions of the state of Israel.
CENTRAL BOARD OF JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN GREECE
36, VOULIS STR.
GR – 105 57 ATHENS
TEL : (++30210) 32 44 315 – 8 WEB SITE: http://www.kis.gr
FAX : (++30210) 33 13 852 E-MAIL : hhkis@ath.forthnet.gr
THE IMPACT OF THE GAZA CONFLICT
ON GREEK SOCIETY AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
The “anti-Israeli” feeling of the majority of the Greek public opinion revived and escalated since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict. In January 2009, the number of anti-Semitic incidents related to the conflict increased as well.
Greek public opinion is clearly pro-Palestinian. Politicians, popular Greek figures, bishops, public administrators, mayors around Greece, as well as the mass media made anti-Israeli statements, often with anti-Semitic references (drawing parallels between Israelis and Nazis, Gaza and Auschwitz, David and Goliath, etc).
Antisemitic incidents against Jewish targets:
From December 31, 2008 to January 21, 2009, Jewish sites were desecrated in Athens, Larissa, Volos, Corfu, Veroia, Drama, Komotini and Ioannina with anti-Semitic graffiti and slogans on Synagogues, Holocaust Monuments and Jewish cemeteries. Graffiti with slogans like “Jews = Murderers” and “Jews=Nazis” was common to all cases. In two cases, violent attacks were prevented by the police: In Veroia, there was an attempt to light the door of the Synagogue on fire and in Larissa, there was an attempt to tear down the Magen David from the door of the Synagogue and forced entry into it. Violent attacks occurred in the Jewish cemetery of Ioannina where a few tombstones were damaged and vandalized.
Totally 13 antisemitic incidents occurred in one month, when throughout 2008 only two relevant incidents occurred and respectively eight incidents in 2007.
In February 2009, the number of incidents decreased to one, reported in Ioannina, where swastikas appeared on the gate of the Jewish cemetery. (See detailed report, Annex 1).
GREEK REACTIONS:
The President of the Republic: President Karolos Papoulias, during the new year’s reception on January 1st, stated: “Aren’t they [the Israelis] ashamed of killing children?”. The Greek press reported that President Papoulias, while speaking to K. Mitsotakis (ex Prime Minister who recognized Israel and upgraded diplomatic relations with Greece), said: “What are our friends, the Israelis, doing? Are they flying airplanes and killing in cold blood?”.
The Government: Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis has made no public statements on the Gaza issue. Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis made careful and balanced statements, keeping equal distances from both sides.
The Opposition: The main Opposition Party of PASOK adopted a clearly pro-Palestinian position. The leader of the Opposition George Papandreou, who is also President of the “Socialist International” (expressed solidarity only towards the Palestinians. No M.P. of the PASOK Party made any reference to the Israeli victims of Hamas or to the rocket fire against Israelis from the organization. Political spokesman of PASOK M.P Andreas Loverdos, in an interview (Real news, Jan.4, ‘09), stated that: “One cannot keep equal distances from unequal subjects. Equal distances between unequal subjects are unequal distances. We have the weak Palestinians from one side and the almighty Israelis on the other. We have harassment from one side and hundreds of deaths on the other. …I believe that today Greeks could say that ‘we all feel like Palestinians’!”. The Parliamentary spokesman of PASOK Theodoros Pangalos returned the Israeli Ambassador’s new year’s gift, together with a letter explaining that “he cannot accept a gift of wines produced in Golan which Israel illegally occupies”. With reference to Gaza, he compared it to the Warsaw ghetto. The letter was leaked to the press.
The Parties of the Left: The Greek Communist Party and the Party of “SYNASPISMOS” made severe anti-Israel statements. Communist Party Secretary Aleka Papariga urged Israel to “unconditionally stop the bombings in Gaza because the attacking party cannot pose any conditions”. The leader of SYNASPISMOS Party Alexis Tsipras spoke of “genocide against the Palestinian people”, stating that “the Israelis have turned Gaza into an immense concentration camp, exterminating civilians, women and small children” and asked the Government “to annul the agreement of military cooperation between Greece and Israel”. The Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of SYNASPISMOS Alekos Alavanos asked the Government to recall the Greek Ambassador from Israel. Alekos Alavanos, in his statements defined the Israeli attacks as a “crime against humanity”. He also submitted an interpellation to the Greek Parliament on the intermediation of the Greek Government in Gaza conflict. He also made statements pointing out that “the E.U. should condemn -instead of encouraging- the Israeli pogroms against the Palestinian people”. M.E.P. of SYNASPISMOS, Dimitris Papadimoulis, submitted an interpellation to the E.U. Council asking the E.U. to bring Israel before The Hague International Court under the accusation of war crimes.
The Party of LAOS. George Karatzaferis, the leader of the far-right Party of LAOS, published a fiercely anti-Semitic article in his weekly newspaper “ALPHA ENA”, on Jan. 3-4, 2009, (the official organ of his Party). In his article –inter alia- he states that “Jews have turned themselves into murderers equally heinous as the Nazis were”, that “the Jew smells of blood” and that one would not expect any better from the “race that crucified God. Would the murderers of God care about a few hundred innocent children being murdered?” (see the full article attached – Annex 2). The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece addressed a letter of protest to the President of the Greek Parliament Mr. Dimitris Sioufas. In this letter, the Greek Jewry points out that “This is an unacceptable, unique in the Greek records, as well as an open expression of anti-Semitism, coming from a member of the Greek Parliament and even leader of a political party. Dear Mr. President, we, Greek Jews, express our abhorrence and our serious concern; we consider that this wrongdoing of a member of the Greek Parliament, could, under circumstances of extreme racism, be a herald of similar and even violent actions against Greek citizens. Such violent actions have caused affliction to Jews in the past”. (Full text attached – Annex 3). As a reaction the Special Secretary of the Greek Parliament communicated our Board’s letter to the Parliamentary Group of LAOS. (See attached – Annex 4). George Karatzaferis replied to our Board (the whole correspondence passed through the Special Secretary of the Parliament). The letter, highly ironical with anti-Semitic hints, was communicated to our Board and was published in the newspaper “Alpha Ena” (January 24-25, 2009), under another anti-Semitic comment. (See Annex 5 – The reply of G. Karatzaferis and the comment of “Alpha Ena”).
Representatives of the Church. A balanced statement was made by the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos. Nevertheless, the Archbishop met with the Ambassador of the Diplomatic Representation of the Palestinian Authority. On the other hand, a few local bishops made anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic statements: The Bishop of Kalavryta Ambrosios stated that “Israel attacks spread death among civilians. The powerful people of the earth, through their silence and guilty tolerance cover the aggression of Israel! An ongoing genocide is being held in Gaza and nobody protests!…”. The Bishop of Piraeus Seraphim, in his statement spoke of “the claws of the Zionist monster” and referred to a “global Zionist attack”.
Municipalities / Labour syndicates / rallies / demonstrations
A large number of Municipalities, Prefectures, public entities and labour syndicates around Greece issued resolutions and organized rallies of solidarity to the Palestinian people. Here under we refer only to a few characteristic examples, so as to outline the situation:
-During a demonstration in Athens, protesters burned Israeli and American flags in front of the Israeli Embassy (Dec. 29, 2008).
-The Greek Institute of Consumers issued an announcement urging consumers to boycott Israeli products.
-The Municipal Council of Athens passed a resolution condemning “the Israeli military attack in Gaza which assumes the characteristics of a genocide against the Palestinian people”. The Mayor of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis declared to be “a keen supporter of the Palestinian cause for an independent, peaceful, and democratic Palestinian State”.
- The Municipality of Nikea (suburb of Athens), during the new year’s festivities, placed the Palestinian flag on the Town Hall premises. The Nikea Mayor Benetatos spoke of “mass murders” committed by the Israelis and expressed solidarity towards Palestinians.
-Announcements and resolutions condemning Israel were issued by a great number of Organizations, such as: The Union of Journalists of Athens, the Coordination Committee of Lawyers Associations, Workers Struggling Front (PAME -labour Union affiliated to the Communist Party), etc.
The MASS MEDIA. Greek press and TV broadcasts maintain a pro-Palestinian policy line. The main characteristic is the clear choice made by the majority of the Greek media to promote Palestinian losses over the Israeli ones and condemn Israel’s military operations without condemning the Hamas attacks. Antisemitic references, drawing parallels with the Holocaust and the Nazis, cartoons with Nazi comparison, have been common place during this period. Mainstream daily “Eleftherotypia” published many anti-Israeli articles with anti-Semitic references. Some front page headlines are characteristic : “Avriani” (Dec. 28, 2008) “They began practicing for World War III” / “Eleftheri Ora” (Dec. 29, 08) “Auschwitz – The Gaza Strip, with the Jew as baker this time” / “Apogevmatini” (Jan. 5, 09) “Holocaust”.
Internet. In the site of the daily paper “Rizospastis”, official organ of the Communist Party, a flash animation, appearing in the home page, showed the Israeli flag scattering and the Star of David becoming one of the stars on the U.S. flag. Consequently, all the stars of the U.S. flag were turning into swastikas. Then the following slogan appeared: “Imperialism dropped its mask and put out its Zionist knife”.
Athens, February 26, 2009
Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece
ANNEX 1 – Report on anti-Semitic incidents
ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS IN GREECE related to GAZA CONFLICT
(Dec. 31, 2008 – Jan. 23, 2009)
December 31, 2008 – VOLOS, graffiti :
On the front façade of the Synagogue, slogans reading “The State of Israel Murders! Which side do you take?” and «“Neutrality” and “equal distances” do not fit with Genocide».
December 31, 2008 – CORFU, graffiti :
-On the entrance of the Synagogue: “Sheet on Israel” “Jews Nazis” and “Murderers”.
-On the Holocaust Monument: “Gaza 2008 – Why?”.
-On the Prefecture offices: graffiti picturing the Star of David, reading “Gaza 2008 –Dead Youngsters”.
January 8, 2009 – ATHENS, graffiti :
At the Jewish Cemetery: “Israelites – Jews – Murderers”
January 10, 2009 – VEROIA, violent attack :
Attempt to set fire to the Synagogue of Veroia. The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece filed a complaint against persons unknown.
January 10, 2009 – KOMOTINI, graffiti :
Desecration of the Holocaust Monument with graffiti picturing: “the Star of David = swastika”
January 10, 2009 – DRAMA, graffiti :
Slogans and swastikas on the wall of the Jewish cemetery.
January 18, 2009 – DRAMA, graffiti :
Desecration of the Holocaust Monument and the dedicative plaque with graffiti reading “Greece – Palestine no Jew will remain” & “Zionism murderers of children”
January 16, 2009 LARISSA, graffiti :
- On the Holocaust Monument
Violent attack:
- Attempt to remove the Star of David from the door of the Synagogue and also to violate it. The attack was prevented at the last minute by the police.
January 18, 2009 IOANNINA, violent attack :
Desecration of the Jewish cemetery – three tombs damaged.
February 16, 2009 IOANNINA, graffiti :
Swastikas on the gate of Jewish cemetery
(updated: Feb. 20, 2009)
ANNEX 2 – Article of G. Karatzaferis
“Alpha Ena”, Saturday 3rd – Sunday 4th, January, 2009
It is widely
Although spelled differently, in Greek the word “widely” is pronounced the same as “Jewish”. In the original, the title is deliberately misspelled, resulting in something that could be loosely translated as “It is Jewishly known”. known…
They envied the glory of those whom they hate.
The most hateful person becomes, because of them, more approachable.
They are the worst thing of the 20th century.
Hitler, 3rd Reich, Nazism
All the peoples. The entire earth. The civilised and the less civilised. The educated and the less educated. We all believed that it would not be possible for those dark pages of history to be repeated again.
And yet, in less than 70 years, the foremost victims of Hitler’s brutality, the JEWS, have turned themselves into murderers, equally heinous as their own.
They have been ceaselessly murdering ever since the ill-starred day when the independence of the State of Israel was declared. It was not ill-starred for having justly satisfied the 2,000-year-old yearning of the Jews for a state of their own. It was so for the pitiable error of the mighty of the inter-war period who did not simultaneously recognise a State of Palestine as well.
It was to be expected that his one-sided recognition would result in bloodshed. This blood was the blood of the innocent, as today, just the same as yesterday and tomorrow.
The state of ISRAEL still feels that –in the name of the Holocaust– it can brutalise, abuse, blackmail and humiliate, people as well as institutions.
This is a continuous and growing provocation against the entire civilised world, which bases its outrageously provocative behaviour, on the invasion, in the public life of most powerful nations, of Jews who follow the ruthless dictates of Zionism. No one is resisting sufficiently. Some countries are resisting partially, but none effectively. It is a SHAME.
With a little effort it would be possible to include them [the Jews] in a Society of Justice, solidarity and understanding.
It is difficult to do such a thing with a race that CRUCIFIED God on the one and only time he came down to earth.
And yet, we must try. They do not know the evil THEY DO. GOD, their GREATEST VICTIM is forever reminding us:
“THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.”
Would the murderers of GOD care about a few hundred innocent children being murdered? Their innocent blood is already feeding the flesh, not of the Israelites –for they have developed a thick and insensitive skin after 70 years of continuous murders– but of Bush, even Obama, of the leaders of Europe and of some local supporters of theirs.
UNFORTUNATELY it has become WIDELY known to the whole world that the JEW smells of BLOOD. And it seems that, owing to the tolerance of some, he will continue to smell of blood for many years to come.
Children of Palestine, we apologise.
G. KARATZAFERIS
ANNEX 3 – Letter to the President of the Greek Parliament
To the President of the Greek Parliament
Mr. Dimitris Sioufas
Athens
January 12, 2009
Dear Mr. President of the Greek Parliament:
The head of LA.O.S. Party, Mr. G. Karatzaferis undersigns the following phrases titled “It is widely
Translator’s note: The words “widely” and “Jewishly” have a similar sound in Greek, although a different spelling. Therefore, one may play on these words. In this particular text, “widely” has an anti-Semitic connotation. known…” in the newspaper ALPHA ENA (issue 3-4 January 09), attached.
We quote parts of these publications:
“UNFORTUNATELY it is now WIDELY known throughout the world that the JEW stinks BLOOD”.
“In less than 70 years the first victims of the Nazi atrocities, the JEWS, turn into equally atrocious murderers as their own persecutors.”
“With a little effort we could annihilate them (the Jews) in a Society of Justice, solidarity and concord. This is somehow difficult with a race which CRUCIFIED G-d, the one and unique time He came down to Earth.”
We turn to you, the President of the highest institution of our Democracy, because this is an unacceptable, unique in the Greek records as well as an open expression of anti-Semitism, coming from a member of the Greek Parliament and even leader of a political party.
Dear Mr. President, we, Greek Jews, express our abhorrence and our serious concern; we consider that this wrongdoing of a member of the Greek Parliament, could, under circumstances of extreme racism, be a herald of similar and even violent actions against Greek citizens. Such violent actions have caused affliction to Jews in the past.
At the same time, the abuse coming from the head of LA.O.S. offends the Greek Constitution itself, and exposes our country to the international community.
Dear Mr. President, we feel it is our obligation to inform you that we, Greek Jews, have complete faith in you personally as well as to the high institution of Democracy of which you are a leader. We believe that you will take the necessary initiatives and having the sense of responsibility due to your rank and your personality, you will take actions so that those grounds which could create a spirit of persecution of law abiding citizens are alienated by the Greek Society and condemned outright in the conscience of our Greek fellow citizens.
Yours Sincerely,
Moses Constandinis Abraham Reitan
President General Secretary
ANNEX 4 – Letter of the President of the Greek Parliament to LAOS
Athens, 14.1.2009
To the
Office of the President of the
Parliamentary Group of LA.O.S.
By special command of the President of the Greek Parliament, Mr. Dimitrios Sioufas, we communicate to you, enclosed herewith, the letter of Mr. Moses Constantinis, President of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, dated January 12, 2009, as well as the article which was attached to the letter.
The Special Secretary
of the Hellenic Parliament
Dimitris Papagiannis
ANNEX 5 – The reply of G. Karatzaferis and the comment of “Alpha Ena”
LA.O.S.
POPULAR ORTHODOX RALLY
Athens, 22/01/2009
To Mr. Dimitris Papayiannis
Special Secretary of the Parliament
Mr. Papayiannis:
The letter you delivered to me from the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, signed by Mr. Moses Constantinis and Mr. Abraham Reitan is extremely interesting.
They are certainly right. It is not the JEWS but the ISRAELITES who are reeking with blood. They are the ones who claim that among all nations on Earth they are the Chosen People of the Lord whose son they crucified and carried out the bloodiest invasion in the most recent years in the Gaza Strip.
We didn’t simply find out about the atrocity of their actions. Unfortunately for them and their supporters we experienced the horror they caused. Ascertainment and truth are not an insult, but a Democratic obligation dictated by the necessity to serve Human Rights.
Naturally, no one ever thought of blaming Greek Jews for anything that Israelites do. The reference to the Jews is due to the identification of the State of Israel to the Jewish religion.
Besides, I am absolutely convinced, like, I believe all Greeks, especially the ones who live abroad and have a close relationship with the Jews of the Diaspora, that anytime and under any circumstances a crisis between Greece and Israel occur (something which we all hope won’t be the case), the Greek Jews will be on the side of Greece.
On this occasion, I would like to express the wish that, since we have Muslim Greeks who are members of the Parliament, we shall welcome Jewish ones. In the past we had Jews who were converted to Christianity and held high posts. So, why not have Jews who still keep their faith?
Sincerely,
G. Karatzaferis
President of LA.O.S
**** **** ****
The comment of “Alpha Ena”
The above letter was published in the weekly newspaper “Alpha Ena” (Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 January 2009), under the following comment :
UNLIMITED IMPUDENCE
The Central Jewish Board of Greece demands that the President of the Parliament controls and alienates G. Karatzaferis!
The President of LA.O.S. did nothing more and nothing less than express the anger and disapproval expressed throughout the world for the atrocities still going on in the Strip of Gaza. The former victims of the Holocaust are now the aggressors and aspire to become even more brutal than the Nazis.
However, the unlimited impudence of the native expressers of Zionism as a method of control and constraint, even appearing under the title “Hellenic Republic” reached the point to demand that the President of the Parliament controls and alienates a MP and head of a political party. Of course, the reply, including all the main points was sent back the same way.
A word to the wise is enough!
Source: www.Maknews.com
BATI TRAKYA April 21, 2009
Posted by Yilan in Human rights abuses.Tags: Bati Trakya, Yunanistan
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This report examines the situation of the ethnic Turkish minority of Thrace, a region of Greece. It serves as a follow-up to two earlier reports issued by Human Rights Watch, Destroying Ethnic Identity: The Turks of Greece (August 1990) and “Greece: Improvements for Turkish Minority; Problems Remain” (April 1992). Ethnic Turks have resided in Thrace since at least the fourteenth century, and they are Greek citizens. In 1923, under the Treaty of Lausanne, the Turkish minority of Thrace was granted a wide array of rights to ensure protection of their religion, language, culture, and equality before the law.1 In addition, as Greek citizens, ethnic Turks also enjoy the protection of Greek law, as well as of the European Convention of Human Rights. Despite such protections, however, ethnic Turks suffer a host of human rights violations. The Greek state has for the most part been unable to accept the fact that one can be a loyal Greek citizen and, at the same time, an ethnic Turk proud of his or her culture and religion. Turks are viewed by the state with suspicion, the strength of which largely reflects the state of Turkish-Greek relations. Greece’s attitude toward the ethnic Turkish minority is nowhere more evident then in its continued official denial of the Turkish identity of the community. Greece only accepts the existence of a “Muslim” minority in Thrace and aggressively prosecutes and bans organizations and individuals who seek to call themselves “Turkish.” While it is indeed true that much of the minority is of mixed ethnic origins, it overwhelmingly claims an ethnic Turkish identity and wants to be referred to as such. The Greek government points to the Treaty of Lausanne which, it is true, speaks only of a “Muslim minority.” Past state policy, however, negates such a justification. In the early 1950s, during a period of rapprochement between Greece and Turkey, the Greek government itself ordered the use of “Turk” and “Turkish” to refer to the minority, rather than “Muslim.” A number of discriminatory measures have been enacted either to force ethnic Turks to migrate to Turkey or to disrupt community life and weaken its cultural basis. The most egregious example was Article 19 of the Citizenship Law, which, until it was abolished in 1998, allowed the state to revoke the citizenship of non-ethnic Greeks unilaterally and arbitrarily. Between 1955 and 1998, approximately 60,000 lost their citizenship under the article. As a result of Article 19 and other discriminatory measures, the ethnic Turkish minority today numbers approximately 80-120,000.2 In 1951, forty-seven years ago, the official census reported 112,665. Given an annual 2 percent growth rate, not high for a poorly-educated and rural community, the Turkish minority, using 1951 as a base, would have been expected to number closer to 300,000 today.3 Religion has been another battleground. A 1990 law granted the state wide-ranging powers in appointing the mufti, the community’s religious leader who also serves as an Islamic judge in civil matters. The previous law, in contrast, had allowed the community to elect the muftis. In defiance of the 1990 law, which violates the intent of the Treaty of Lausanne to allow the minority to manage its own religious affairs, the community has continued to elect its religious leaders, who have been prosecuted and imprisoned by Greek authorities. In addition, the repair of mosques is sometimes blocked by state authorities, and those involved in the repair are prosecuted. The state has also struck at private charitable foundations, known as Vak1flar, that support education and religious institutions. A law passed in 1980 and a presidential decree issued in 1990 effectively transferred management of the Vak1flar from elected committees—a right assured under the Treaty of Lausanne and preceding Greek legislation—to state officials, who were granted an iron hand over budgetary matters. More ominously, the 1980 law struck directly at the financial holdings of the foundations by ordering that any property for which an official deed could not be presented would be confiscated by the state. While innocuous-sounding, the regulation presented insurmountable challenges to foundations that had holdings as old as 500 years. Human rights violations in the education field affect the largest number of individuals and have done the most to foster the Turkish minority’s relative underdevelopment. Schools are overcrowded and poorly funded compared to those attended by ethnic Greeks. The quality of teachers is low. Ethnic Turks educated in Turkish universities, which the minority believes are the best qualified to teach, have not been hired for a number of years. On the other hand, graduates of the Thessaloniki Pedagogical Academy (EPATH)—the job candidates preferred by the Greek state—are poorly educated and have a weak command of Turkish. Furthermore, community members claim, not without some justification, that the EPATH-trained teachers act as “ideological overseers.” Textbooks are decades out of date because Greece and Turkey have been unable to implement a 1968 protocol that would have allowed each country to supply textbooks to their respective minority. The two Turkish-language high schools can provide only a fraction of the needed places, resulting in a disproportionate drop-out rate. Greek officials fall back on the Treaty of Lausanne, which only obligates them to provide primary education in Turkish, ignoring the fact that Greek law mandates a minimum of nine years of education. State repression takes other forms as well. Members of the ethnic Turkish minority also complain of police surveillance, discrimination in public employment, and restrictions on freedom of expression. Representatives from Human Rights Watch and the Greek Helsinki Monitor were trailed by police operatives in Thrace while conducting research for this report. Only a handful of Turks are employed by the municipal or state bureaucracies, almost always in the most menial tasks. A local journalist known as a community activist has become the subject of several prosecutions in an effort to limit his internationally-protected right to free expression. Despite continued human rights violations, there have been some major improvements since Human Rights Watch began monitoring the situation in 1990. Several of the most egregious laws, such as those that deprived ethnic Turks of basic rights of property and occupation, have been repealed. Since our 1990 report, ethnic Turks can now buy and sell houses and land, repair houses, obtain car, truck and tractor licenses, and open coffee houses and machine and electrical shops. As noted earlier, the government abolished Article 19 of the Citizenship Law, though not retroactively. Restricted zones along the Bulgarian border inhabited by members of the Turkish minority have been opened up, although only to Greek citizens. There have also been efforts to improve education, such as creating a quota for ethnic Turks in the state university system. Finally, the 1994 decision to allow the election of provincial governors and municipal councils appears to be a positive step. These elected officials appear to be more responsive to the needs of the Turkish minority than their state-appointed predecessors. Unfortunately, the Greek state changed the boundaries of two provinces to prevent the election of an ethnic Turkish or pro-Turkish governor from an exclusively ethnic Turkish election list.4 1 The ethnic Greek minority in Istanbul was granted identical rights under the treaty. 2 Informed outside observers put the number closer to the 80,000 range, while, paradoxically, both the Greek state and the minority community claim upwards of 120,000. 3 In 1923, the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne left some 106,000 ethnic Turks in Thrace. The ethnic Greek minority of Istanbul, also protected under the Treaty of Lausanne, has also shrunk in size because of state discrimination, from 110,000 in 1923 to an estimated 2,500 today. See Denying Human Rights & Ethnic Identity: The Greeks of Turkey, March 1992. 4 Though ethnic Turks ran—and continue to run—on the lists of other Greek parties and have won election to parliament.
The Ignored Minorites in Greece: Macedonians and Western Thrace Turks April 19, 2009
Posted by Yilan in Human rights abuses.Tags: Bati Trakya, Makedonya
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Western Thrace is the name of the region stretching out from the Turkish border in North-eastern Greece up to the Karasu River.The size of the minority today is about 150,000 compared with 129,000 in 1923. The Greek state systematically discriminates against the Turkish minority and denies the ethnic identity of the minority, which whether acquired by birth or through acculturation, is Turkish. Greece prefers to use the term “Muslim minority”, a concept based on the Lausanne Peace Treaty and on the rejection of a “Turkish” identity. Greece’s refusal to accept the minority’s Turkish identity has ranged from banning civic organisations bearing the adjective “Turkish” in their titles – as in the case of “Turkish Union of Xanthi”- to prosecuting individuals who publicly identified the minority as “Turkish”.
Macedonians
The Macedonian minority of Greece is concentrated in the northern part of the country. The exact number of ethnic Macedonians and Macedonian-speakers is unknown as questions on ethnicity and language are excluded from the census. Although the Macedonian language is spoken by a large number of persons, it is in danger of becoming extinct as it does not enjoy official state recognition and therefore is not taught in the education system. Furthermore, Macedonian speakers and indeed persons expressing a Macedonian ethnic identity have been persecuted by Greek authorities. Greek courts on multiple occassions since 1989 have refused to register the cultural assocation “Home of Macedonian Culture”.
