Tension between Athens and Ankara: Greece closes minority schools in Thrace

New tension in relations between Greece and Turkey is emerging in the Thrace region. Greek authorities have decided to close eight schools serving the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, officially motivating their actions with an insufficient number of students.

Following this move, the total number of minority schools in the area decreases to 76. The decision triggered an immediate diplomatic reaction from Ankara. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested, stating that Athens' actions are a direct violation of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.

A representative of the Turkish department, Ondju Keceli, pointed out that artificial obstacles to enrolling new students are also being observed, specifically in a school in Xanthi. According to him, this is part of a broader strategy to limit the educational rights of the Muslim minority in the region.

The Treaty of Lausanne, which ended the Greco-Turkish War, guarantees the Muslim minority in Western Thrace the right to education in the Turkish language. Although Bulgarian and Romani languages are also spoken in the region, the issue of language education in these schools remains a sensitive topic in Greek domestic politics.