Turks in Greece

In a provocative address to the Turkish Parliament's budget committee, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan again raised the issue of Greece's Muslim minority, referring to the "Turkish minority in Western Thrace" and demanding Greece refrain from any provocations. 

In Islam, homosexuality is a grave sin that is believed to incur the wrath of Allah. In some strict Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, punishments such as flogging, stoning, and burning at the stake are prescribed.

A Muslim in Athens praying in a new mosque, the first official place of worship for Muslims in Athens, 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE/ORESTI PANAGIOTOU

The letter focuses on its educational and religious problems and its legal harassment for use of the word "Turkish".

Turkey reaffirmed its support on Jan. 29 for the legitimate struggle of the Turkish minority community in Western Thrace in Greece. 

The Turkish Foreign Ministry posted a message of support on Twitter with reference to the January 29 Western Thrace National Resistance and Solidarity Day.

The Greek Foreign Ministry has slammed a conference held in Turkey titled "The Turkish identity of Muslims in Western Thrace" as stoking tension and uncertainty among Greek Muslims.

Greece does not recognize its Muslim population, located predominantly in Western Thrace, as an ethnically Turkish minority but as a religious one.