Turkey Slams Greece for Closing Turkish Minority Schools in Western Thrace, Calls It Treaty of Lausanne Violation

Trkiye's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oncu Keceli:- We condemn Greeces decision to close eight primary schools belonging to Turkish minority in Western Thrace- New obstacles to first-grade enrollment at 1st Turkish Minority Primary School of Iskece (Xanthi) are another example of systematic practices aimed at eroding educational rights of Turkish minority in Western Thrace- These oppressive decisions and practices constitute violation of provisions of Treaty of Lausanne- We call on Greece to comply with its international obligations regarding minority and fundamental human rights News Analysis & Summary Turkey's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oncu Keceli has strongly condemned Greece's decision to shut down eight primary schools belonging to the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, labeling the move as a systematic attack on educational rights. In a detailed statement, Keceli highlighted that new obstacles to first-grade enrollment at the 1st Turkish Minority Primary School of Iskece (Xanthi) are part of a broader pattern aimed at eroding the minority's access to education. He emphasized that these actions violate the Treaty of Lausanne, which guarantees the rights of the Turkish minority in Greece. In my opinion, this is not an isolated incident but a calculated step in a long-term strategy to diminish the cultural and linguistic identity of the Turkish minority. Greece's persistent disregard for its international obligations is troubling, as it undermines fundamental human rights and regional stability. The international community must pressure Athens to reverse these oppressive decisions and comply with minority protection standards. Source: @trtworld on X/TwitterPublic Engagement Views: 1,049 Likes: 5 Shares: 4 Published: July 19, 2026, 2:20 pm