On the occasion of the events of January 29, 1990, during which attacks and violent incidents took place in Western Thrace, nationalist minority circles state that the Greek state has not apologized until today, trying to create a climate of "insurrection", serving the suspicious and dark plans of Ankara and Erdogan's AKP.
The same circles note that in 1988 the Greek judiciary decided to close all the associations whose name contained the term "Turkish" on the grounds that "there is no Turkish minority in Greece but Muslim since this is mentioned in the Treaty of Lausanne, which Erdogan wants to "update".
On the second anniversary of the protest (January 29, 1990) there were incidents in Komotini and Xanthi. In the attacks that lasted two days, more than 500 shops and businesses were destroyed and looted.
Every year on January 29, the minority of Western Thrace holds anniversary events, as well as a march in protest of the decision of the Greek justice on January 29, 1988.
The Association of Muslim Minorities issued a statement on the events of 29 January 1988 and 29 January 1990.
Its announcement is as follows:
"It has been 33 years since January 29, 1988, when the community of Western Thrace said 'NO' to oppression, injustice and discrimination. The minority of Western Thrace, 33 years ago, expressed its reaction to anti-democratic practices. to which it has been exposed to even today and announced its longing for a normal life.
The biggest problem for Muslims in Western Thrace is the problem of "identity rejection", which increases the impact of all other pressures. The closure of the associations with the phrase "Turkish" in their names based on "NO Turks in Western Thrace" was the most important event that mobilized the Turks of Western Thrace in an organized way.
What made the "National Resistance Day" for the Turks of Western Thrace on January 29 is the closure of the "Turkish Teachers' Union of Western Thrace" and the "Turkish Youth Union of Komotini", which automatically means the rejection of the Turkish identity.
Every year, the Turks of Western Thrace celebrate the day they resisted the attacks on Turkish identity with the name "Day of Social Solidarity and Resistance on January 29" or rather "National Day of Resistance on January 29".
The incident was that on January 29, 1988, 20,000 Turks who wanted to protest the court's decision to close the unions, wanting to declare their Turkishness, united and shouted "We are Turks" despite all the pressure and obstacles.
January 29 is the anniversary of the will of the Turks of Western Thrace against assimilation, restriction of citizenship rights, inability to obtain minority rights, restriction of their religious freedoms and exposure to unfair practices.
The fact that the practice that brought the Turks of Western Thrace to the streets on January 29, 1988, unfortunately continues today, giving a new character of protest. This protest has been going on resolutely for 33 years.
On the 33rd anniversary of January 29, we remember all our relatives who contributed to our fight for identity rights with respect and gratitude, and we hope that this fight will set an example for the new generations, for a courageous response to the ongoing minority problems. to exist and must be resolved today.
With respect to the public
Association of Associations of Minority Schools of Thrace
Board of directors"
These are clearly figments of the imagination of extremist circles, who seek to provoke Greece and the Greeks from a portion of people who receive orders directly from Ankara.
Greece is an EU member state and applies to the fullest extent all the provisions concerning its citizens, regardless of their origin, so these events in the year 2021 are excessive since neighboring Turkey has been turned into a fascist imperialist hell by the AKP regime.
At Ankara's urging, these circles are trying to cause harm to the entire Muslim minority by using practices and methods of post-medieval times. They will only succeed in being ignored even by the few who support them.
*Edited by Evangelos D. Kokkinos
