Politics
Greece’s Turkish minority sounds alarm over school closures
Members of the Turkish minority in Greece’s Western Thrace region have raised concerns over the continued closure of minority schools, warning that the measures threaten children’s right to education in their native language and the preservation of their cultural identity.
Eight Turkish minority primary schools have had their operations suspended for the 2026-2027 academic year, including five in Rhodope, two in Xanthi and one in Evros, according to Mustafa Trampa, chair of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board and elected mufti of Xanthi (Iskeçe).
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Trampa said the suspensions, officially described as temporary, effectively amounted to permanent closures, undermining the minority community’s educational and cultural rights.
He argued that minority education enjoys a special legal status under the Treaty of Lausanne, bilateral agreements and international law, which should protect schools from closure solely because of declining enrollment.
“If we want to preserve our Turkish language, we must also preserve our schools,” Trampa said, emphasizing the role of bilingual education in maintaining the community’s identity, traditions and religious heritage.
Trampa criticized Greece’s policy of suspending schools with low enrollment, pointing to Türkiye’s efforts to maintain Greek minority schools in Istanbul and Gökçeada despite similarly limited student numbers.
He urged Athens to adopt a comparable approach, arguing that preserving minority schools would also safeguard the region’s cultural diversity.
The closures have also placed additional burdens on families, forcing young children to travel to neighboring villages for education, often under difficult winter conditions, Trampa said.
He warned that losing a school could weaken village life by removing an institution central to the community’s cultural and educational activities.
Ozan Ahmetoğlu, chair of the Xanthi Minority Secondary and High School Board, echoed those concerns, criticizing Greek authorities for applying nationwide minimum-enrollment rules to minority schools without accounting for their distinct legal status.
Ahmetoğlu said the number of Turkish minority primary schools had declined significantly in recent years, raising fears about the long-term survival of bilingual education in Western Thrace.
He called on Greece’s Education Ministry to engage directly with minority representatives and school administrators to develop mutually acceptable solutions.
According to Ahmetoğlu, repeated requests over the past three decades to improve educational standards in minority schools have gone unanswered, contributing to growing frustration among parents and community leaders.
He said the lack of consultation had fueled concerns that the gradual closure of minority schools could ultimately undermine the community’s educational institutions.
Minority representatives insist that their demands extend beyond keeping school buildings open, emphasizing the importance of ensuring children can receive quality education in both Turkish and Greek.
“This is an acquired right, and we want to exercise it,” Ahmetoğlu underlined.
He stressed that minority families want their children to develop strong proficiency in Greek while retaining their native language and cultural heritage.
Ahmetoğlu described minority schools as institutions essential to preserving cultural continuity, identity and belonging, urging Greek authorities to recognize their importance.
Both representatives called for renewed dialogue with Athens and greater respect for the minority education framework established under international agreements.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced on Wednesday the capture of 33 out of 35 suspects for whom detention warrants were issued as a result of operations conducted across four separate investigations centered in Izmir, Eskişehir and Ağrı against the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) and Daesh.
In a statement made on his social media account, Gürlek stated that they will not tolerate any financial network, organizational activity or restructuring attempt of FETÖ. FETÖ has been on the decline after its attempt to seize power through military infiltrators on July 15, 2016, spectacularly failed. Yet, multiple operations conducted since then indicated that the group tapped into commerce and a secret scheme of donations to regain its former power.
“Today, as a result of joint efforts conducted by our police and gendarmerie organizations under the coordination of our Chief Public Prosecutor’s Offices in Izmir, Eskişehir and Ağrı, four separate operations were carried out targeting the FETÖ and Daesh terrorist groups. As part of the operations, 33 out of a total of 35 wanted suspects were detained. One suspect is at large,” Gürlek said.
“In the investigations, significant findings were reached regarding FETÖ’s financial connections extending abroad, money transfers carried out through companies, and its current structure.”
Conveying that in the Eskişehir-centered investigation, money transfers were determined to have been made through a U.S.-based company affiliated with FETÖ in exchange for food products sent from Türkiye, Gürlek said: “It was evaluated that the transfers in question could be used in financing the restructuring of FETÖ. In the operation carried out against 10 suspects, nine suspects were caught and detained. Efforts to capture one suspect are ongoing.”
Gürlek said two suspects were captured in an Izmir-based investigation, and the suspects were identified through their ties with now-defunct lender Bank Asya, once secretly operated by FETÖ, and through their use of Bylock, an encrypted messaging app exclusively used and developed by the members of the terrorist group.
Stating that in the other Izmir-centered investigation, operations were carried out in four provinces targeting 21 suspects evaluated to be active within FETÖ’s current structure, Gürlek reported that all of the suspects were caught and detained.
Former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, who is standing trial on organized crime and corruption-related charges, began presenting his first defense Wednesday, focusing on current political developments rather than the allegations against him.
Imamoğlu, who remains in pretrial detention and is identified by prosecutors as the alleged leader of a criminal organization, addressed the court on the 34th day of the trial’s second hearing.
During the initial session, Imamoğlu discussed political developments but did not directly address the specific allegations outlined in the indictment.
The proceedings follow a tense exchange between Imamoğlu and the presiding judge during a July 8 hearing, when the defendant objected to restrictions on the time allocated for his defense.
The judge told Imamoğlu that he could either present his defense or exercise his right to remain silent.
“I am not exercising my right to remain silent,” Imamoğlu responded, before insisting that the court could not determine what he would say.
During the confrontation, Imamoğlu also declared that he would put those responsible for preparing the indictment on trial.
Prosecutors subsequently opened a separate investigation into Imamoğlu on suspicion of threatening a public official, citing his remarks directed at the judicial proceedings.
The latest hearing marks the beginning of Imamoğlu’s substantive defense phase in the high-profile trial, although he had yet to respond to the charges during Wednesday’s opening session.
The indictment identifies Imamoğlu as the alleged “leader of a criminal organization” and accuses him of offenses including forming an organization to commit crimes, bribery, money laundering, fraud against public institutions, unlawfully recording and obtaining personal data, concealing evidence, obstructing communications, damaging public property, publicly disseminating misleading information, extortion, bid-rigging, deliberate environmental pollution and violations of tax, forestry and mining laws.
Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of between 828 years, two months and 2,352 years for the ex-mayor over 142 alleged acts.
New Party (YP) Chair Özgür Özel and several party lawmakers attended the proceedings, alongside Imamoğlu’s wife and parents.
Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Nechirvan Barzani said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to resolve Türkiye’s longstanding “Kurdish issue,” expressing support for Ankara’s ongoing “Terror-free Türkiye” initiative to disarm the terrorist group PKK. The PKK claims to fight for a so-called Kurdish cause in Türkiye.
Speaking at a forum, Barzani said he initially had doubts about the seriousness of the initiative but became convinced of Ankara’s commitment following a meeting with Erdoğan.
“Whoever resolves the Kurdish issue in Türkiye deserves the Nobel Prize, and President Erdoğan is at the forefront of that,” Barzani said.
He acknowledged criticism over the pace of the initiative but stressed that resolving longstanding issues would require time and sustained political commitment.
“The Terror-free Türkiye initiative is a serious process, but there may be complaints that it is moving slowly. I think that is natural. It cannot be resolved overnight,” Barzani said.
He added that while progress might not be as rapid as expected, the initiative was moving in the right direction.
Barzani reiterated the KRG’s support for the process, saying the regional administration was prepared to contribute to its success.
“The process benefits everyone, both us and Türkiye,” he said, arguing that a successful outcome would strengthen Türkiye’s regional standing.
Progress in Syria
Turning to developments in neighboring Syria, Barzani expressed optimism about President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s approach toward the Kurdish population, saying he believed the Syrian leader was committed to addressing longstanding grievances.
Barzani said he had not encountered anti-Kurdish attitudes during his meeting with al-Sharaa in Damascus and noted progress in efforts to integrate Kurdish forces into Syria’s security institutions.
He also highlighted steps toward expanding Kurdish-language education, describing them as significant developments following decades of restrictions under the former Assad regime.
The Syrian administration and the YPG terror group reached a new agreement Jan. 29 that provided for a cease-fire and the group’s gradual integration into state institutions.
In late August, the U.S.-backed YPG terrorist group announced that its so-called autonomous administration and all its military and civilian structures have been dissolved.
Approximately 13,000 people have joined the Syrian army, while another 17,000 have entered security institutions, although he did not specify the timeframe for those figures, according to Barzani.
He recalled that Kurds in Syria previously faced difficulties obtaining citizenship documents and said recent measures represented meaningful progress.
Barzani also described symbolic gestures during his visit to Damascus, including a Kurdish-language welcome at the airport, the display of Iraqi and KRG flags, and menus prepared in Kurdish.
He said these gestures reinforced his impression that al-Sharaa wanted to improve relations with Kurdish communities.
However, Barzani cautioned that Syria faces substantial challenges in rebuilding after years of conflict, citing widespread damage to infrastructure, social institutions and urban areas.
Reconstruction and political stabilization would require considerable time, he added.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss recent regional developments and attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, Türkiye’s presidency said Tuesday.
During the conversation, Erdoğan strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and expressed his condolences over the loss of life.
Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, stressing that Ankara would continue to stand by Riyadh amid ongoing regional tensions.
The Turkish president also expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia would overcome the challenges posed by the attacks.
The two leaders discussed the latest developments in the region, according to the statement, which did not provide further details about the attacks or potential casualties.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday to discuss the latest regional developments and diplomatic efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said.
The talks come as Ankara continues its diplomatic push to ease tensions in the Middle East, particularly amid efforts to end the prolonged conflict involving Iran and the United States.
Türkiye has been actively engaged in regional mediation efforts, maintaining contacts with Washington and Tehran to prevent further escalation and facilitate negotiations.
Fidan recently said diplomatic efforts were continuing despite the lack of a breakthrough in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, including discussions over Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran confirmed last week that it had received a U.S. response to its latest proposal to end the conflict, although officials did not disclose its contents. Mediators have continued efforts to bridge differences between the two sides and secure an agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he may seek President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s support in addressing escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, expressing confidence in the Turkish leader’s willingness to contribute to efforts to ease regional tensions.
Speaking to reporters before departing for a campaign trip to Alaska, Trump suggested Erdoğan could play a role in addressing the crisis, saying, “President Erdoğan, I think, would do as I ask.”
Trump did not elaborate on what role he might ask Erdoğan to play or indicate whether Washington had formally approached Ankara about possible involvement.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Erdoğan held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss recent regional developments and attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, Türkiye’s presidency said.
During the conversation, Erdoğan strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and expressed his condolences over the loss of life.
Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, stressing that Ankara would continue to stand by Riyadh amid ongoing regional tensions.
The Turkish president also expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia would overcome the challenges posed by the attacks.
Asked whether Washington had decided to launch strikes against Houthi targets, Trump declined to give a direct answer but condemned the Iran-backed group’s recent actions.
“They’re behaving very badly,” he said.
Trump’s remarks came amid escalating hostilities in Yemen, where the Houthis have intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia as the repercussions of the eight-month U.S.-Iran war spread across the Middle East.
The group recently targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in attacks that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 others, forcing authorities to close the city’s airspace.
The Houthis have also stepped up attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait, raising concerns over regional security and international shipping routes.
The latest escalation follows renewed fighting between the Houthis and forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition.
Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces launched an offensive dubbed “Dawn of Yemen,” aimed at recapturing Houthi-controlled territories and restoring government authority.
The Houthis have controlled the capital, Sanaa, and several other provinces since 2014, when the country’s civil war intensified. A Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.
Fighting intensified again in July following the breakdown of a truce established in 2022, further complicating efforts to secure a lasting political settlement.
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