“Let Turkey consider, before making suggestions to anyone, how many of the articles of the Lausanne Treaty it has itself respected. For what reasons and with what systematic policies of Ankara, the once thriving Greek Minority in Istanbul, Imbro and Tenedo has almost disappeared”, notes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.
For “distortion of reality” and “falsification of the truth” speaks the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to Turkey’s accusations about not respecting the rights of the Muslim minority in Thrace on the occasion of the new law on the modernization of Mufti.
He points out that the new law creates a modern framework for Muftias, fully compatible with the Constitution of Greece and its international obligations.
In fact, it calls on Turkey to “reflect, before making suggestions to anyone, how many of the articles of the Treaty of Lausanne has she herself respected. For what reasons and with what systematic policies of Ankara, the once thriving Greek Minority in Constantinople, Imbro and Tenedo has almost disappeared”.
The announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in detail:
“Turkey, this time on the occasion of the new law on the modernization of the Mufti recently passed by the Hellenic Parliament, is once again distorting reality.
In order to serve her narrative, she willfully distorts the truth regarding the Muslim Minority in Thrace.
The new law, which was drafted after a long consultation with representatives of the Minority, creates a modern and comprehensive institutional framework for Mufties and Muftis in Thrace, fully compatible with the Constitution of Greece and the country’s international obligations, as defined by Treaty of Lausanne, the European Convention on Human Rights, the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the principles and rules of Islam.
Key components of the new law are transparency at all stages of the selection process, the assurance of broad representativeness, through an Advisory Committee made up exclusively of our Muslim fellow citizens from Thrace, the selection by the Advisory Committee, without state intervention, of the most suitable persons for the staffing of the Muftis but also the provision for greater participation of women in the selection process, a pioneering and innovative element based on the internationally applicable rules regarding the appointment of a Muslim religious leader.
Greece, fully respecting its obligations towards the Muslim Minority in Thrace arising from the Treaty of Lausanne, will continue to follow a structured minority policy which promotes the well-being of the Minority.
Our Muslim fellow citizens in Thrace live in a European country.
They enjoy everything that a democratic and privileged state provides to all its citizens, without exceptions.
Let Turkey consider, before making suggestions to anyone, how many of the articles of the Lausanne Treaty it has itself respected.
For what reasons and with what systematic policies of Ankara, the once thriving Greek Minority in Constantinople, Imbro and Tenedo has almost disappeared.
Until Turkey provides honest and convincing answers to these relentless questions, it will continue to be accountable both to its own citizens, whom it has forced to flee their ancestral homes, and to the international community.
Such an exercise of honest self-criticism would be useful primarily for Turkey but also for the future of relations between our two countries.”
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