Greece adopts ‘Ostrich Policy’ toward Turks, says DEB Party leader in Greece

President of the Friendship, Equality and Peace Party (DEB Party) Cigdem Asafoglu made exclusive statements to Türkiye Today regarding the party’s recent success and the situation of the Turkish minority in Greece.

DEB Party represents the Western Thrace Turkish minority and emerged as the leading party in two out of three provinces in Western Thrace in the European Parliament (EP) elections held in Greece on June 9.

Asafoglu pointed out that the Western Thrace Turkish minority faces many chronic issues, emphasizing that the root cause of these problems is the denial of the Turkish identity in Greece.

‘Turkish youth forced to emigrate’

Asafoglu mentioned the severe economic problems recently experienced, asserting that this is a state policy aimed at forcing the Turkish minority to emigrate and altering the demographic structure. “Various methods and plans have been implemented multiple times to force the youth of the Western Thrace Turkish minority to emigrate from this region. The goal here was to change the demographic structure of the area,” she stated.

Western Thrace: The poorest region in Greece

Asafoglu noted that Western Thrace has become the poorest region in Greece in recent years, a fact confirmed by significant institutions such as Eurostat. She remarked that the hardworking nature of the Western Thrace Turkish community makes this situation less coincidental: “Frankly, we do not think this is a coincidence. The people here, the Western Thrace Turkish minority, are indeed a very hardworking and compliant community. Despite all the oppression and injustice, we have never resorted to violence against this country (Greece) or its flag. We have no such intentions.”

Greece’s ‘Ostrich policy’

Asafoglu, stressing the party’s belief in democracy and constant calls for resolving issues through dialogue, highlighted that Greece ignores these calls:

We can compare the policy that the Greek state and Greece apply toward the Western Thrace Turks to an ostrich.

Cigdem Asafoglu, DEB Party President

“When an agenda concerning the problems of the Western Thrace Turkish minority arises, Greece buries its head in the sand. It does not want to hear or see. It does not want to meet with real representatives and solve these issues,” she added.

Word ‘Turks’ is banned

She emphasized that decisions regarding minority rights are made without consulting them, further worsening the situation. Additionally, Asafoglu noted that the word “Turk” is banned in Greece and that official activities of minority institutions are obstructed.

Asafoglu continued, underlining that the denial of Turkish identity makes solving problems more challenging:

How can you produce healthy solutions for a community you deny? You cannot, because you are denying them. You say, ‘You do not exist, I do not recognize you.’ We are struggling against such a mentality.

Cigdem Asafoglu, DEB Party President

‘DEB Party will be the voice of all oppressed communities in Greece’

Asafoglu declared that the DEB Party represents the voice of the Western Thrace Turkish minority, striving to make this voice heard in the EP. She mentioned that the party is actively involved in the European Free Alliance and advocates for minority rights. “Our party will continue to defend the rights of the Western Thrace Turkish minority by bringing the injustices in Greece to the world’s attention,” she said.

Asafoglu noted that they received votes not only from the Western Thrace region but also from across Greece in the recent elections, stating:

There are people in Greece who think like us, respect us, and share our concerns.

Cigdem Asafoglu, DEB Party President

“In the future, I believe the DEB Party will become the voice of all oppressed and unjustly treated communities in Greece, not just the Western Thrace Turkish minority. Therefore, we will expand our organization within Greece,” she concluded.