06.11.2007 - Source: European Commission

Greek minority continues to encounter problems with education and property rights ("Turkey 2007 Progress Report [SEC(2007) 1436]") [ID 22422]

"The Greek minority continues to encounter problems with education and property rights. In this context, problems affecting the Greek minority on the islands of Gökçeada (Imvros) and Bozcaada (Tenedos) continue to be reported."

Document(s): Open document

10.10.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Language rights and recognized minorities (Greek minority teachers restricted in schools where they can teach; training of Armenian language teachers very limited) ("A Minority Policy of Systematic Negation") [ID 18448]

"Non-Muslim religious minorities have encountered problems in applying the principles of article 40 of the Lausanne Treaty regarding language education, which states that non-Muslim minorities should have the “equal right to establish, manage and control at their own expense […] any schools and other establishments for instruction and education, with the rights to use their own language.”

In reality, however, the proper functioning of minority schools is hindered in several ways. Firstly, minorities still encounter problems obtaining teaching materials or in getting those teaching materials approved. Secondly, minorities are suffering from state restrictions on minority teachers.

Thus, for example, Greek minority teachers are restricted in the schools where they can teach and must be of Turkish citizenship. Similarly, the training of Armenian language teachers is very limited possibly pending acceptance by the Turkish authorities of an Armenian department within an Istanbul university for the study of the Armenian language."

Document(s): Report
Press Release

10.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Situation of the Greek minority ("Country Report - October 2005") [#40563],  [ID 13788]

"6.293 The USSD Report on International Religious Freedom 2004 estimates that there are less than 3,000 Greek Orthodox Christians in Turkey. [5b] (p1) The World Directory of Minorities (1997) states that “There are probably 3,000 ageing Greek Christians, mainly in Istanbul, the residue of 80,000 still there in 1963. Formal expulsions police harassment and a climate of fear and popular animosity have since then reduced the community to its present number.” [57a] (p381)

6.294 As noted in the EC 2005 report:

“The Greek minority continues to encounter problems obtaining approval for new teaching materials and the recognition of teachers trained abroad. [71e] (p36) Moreover, in contravention of the 2003 Labour Law and in contrast with the situation of their colleagues of Turkish origin, Greek minority teachers are still only permitted to teach in one school…In practice Greek citizens have problems inheriting property, despite the existence of a decree which appears to grant them such rights. At least one case has been lodged with the ECtHR in relation to this issue. The Greek minority on the island of Gökçeada (Imvros) continues to encounter a number of difficulties.” [71e] (p37)"

Document(s): Open document