Who is it that turns Lausanne into a 'rag'?!

Despite Lausanne and all of Turkey's reactions, Greece continues to usurp the rights of the Western Thrace Turkish minority.

After closing 8 Turkish schools this academic year, it also appointed new muftis to Komotini and Xanthi last week.

Regarding the mufti appointments, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that “Greece continues to disregard the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Western Thrace Turkish minority, which are guaranteed by the Treaty of Lausanne and international agreements.”

Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Numan Kurtulmuş also called on Greece to “comply with its obligations arising from Lausanne, respect the will of the Western Thrace Turks, recognize the elected muftis, and immediately abandon these unacceptable practices,” emphasizing that “as Turkey, we will never leave our kinsmen alone in their struggle to protect their identities, beliefs, and rights.”

Likewise, the elected mufti of Xanthi, Mustafa Trampa, stated that they are a minority guaranteed by Lausanne and international agreements, saying, “We want the same rights that states grant to minorities living under their roof. For instance, there is a Greek minority in Istanbul. The Republic of Turkey provides all kinds of facilities to the Istanbul Greek minority, and they themselves express this. We want the same rights that our motherland grants. Reciprocity is in question between the two minorities. We want this reciprocity to be implemented.”

They Say “Secular Bigots Sanctify Lausanne”

While everyone is reminding Greece of Lausanne, what kind of delusions do you think a media outlet of the ruling party came up with?

Above and below the headline “Greece has broken its leash,” it wrote the following:

“Athens has turned Lausanne, which secular bigots sanctify, into a rag... It is appointing puppet muftis and closing our schools.”

“Athens, which has trampled on the Lausanne Treaty—defended and sanctified by a handful of marginal minorities in Turkey—has accelerated its assimilation policies toward the Turkish minority living in Western Thrace. Greece is implementing a systematic political-cultural genocide against the Turkish minority in many areas, from identity denial to educational restrictions, and from foundation properties to freedom of worship.”

So, Lausanne, which is the title deed of Turkey, is “defended and sanctified by a handful of marginal minorities,” is it? Then shouldn't they be pleased that Greece is “turning the treaty into a rag”?

Since they are complaining, let us explain with examples who is “turning” and “having” Lausanne turned into a “rag.”

Those Struggling to Open the Halki Seminary

Since the elected mufti of Xanthi, Mustafa Trampa, highlighted the rights granted to the Greek minority in Istanbul and the principle of reciprocity; let us start with the Halki Seminary, which not only the Patriarchate and Greece but also the US and EU are pressuring us to open in violation of the Constitution and the Law on Unification of Education, and which Ankara has promised to open.

Archbishop Elpidophoros, whom Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew appointed to the Greek Orthodox Church in the US in violation of Lausanne, was invited to the ministry at the end of August by Riley Barnes, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights. During the meeting, “long-standing efforts to ensure the reopening of the Halki Seminary and the highly promising developments in this regard” were discussed.

Again, in recent days, at a ceremony held in New York on behalf of the “Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate” under the leadership of Elpidophoros; Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, who is called the “national commander” and aims to realize Greece’s “megali idea,” stated that the Archons have stood by the “Ecumenical Patriarchate” for 60 years, expressed his satisfaction with the long-awaited progress toward the reopening of the Halki Seminary, and noted that “they will not rest until the classrooms are full again.” Meanwhile, he complained about Turkey not recognizing the legal personality of the Patriarchate and seizing its properties.

Is there anyone in Ankara raising their voice against these activities and expectations of the Patriarchate and the impositions of the US? No!..

What Did He Discuss with the King of England?

Since the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, not only considers himself “ecumenical,” meaning the leader of all Orthodox Christians in the world, in violation of Lausanne, but has also started using the title “Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome,” he is treated like a head of state in almost all countries.

When he went to England for an event in mid-September, he met with King Charles at his summer residence in Scotland. It was reported that the meeting, which was planned to last half an hour, “was extended for another half hour in an extremely sincere and friendly atmosphere.”

Has anyone from Ankara asked the Patriarch, “What did you discuss with King Charles?” No!..

At the end of September, Bartholomew appointed Priest Demetrios Samaras to the position of “chief administrator of the orphanage” from the Byzantine era. Who is this Samaras? He is a businessman from Thessaloniki and also someone who supports the educational activities of the Greeks in Istanbul as the “Bosphorus (Boğaziçi) Constantinople international branch president” of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA).

While elected muftis are not recognized in Western Thrace, is there anyone asking, “What kind of appointment is this?” Again, no!..

After Ukraine, Bulgaria

It is an open secret that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is engaged in activities to encircle Russia on behalf of the US. It started by separating the Ukrainian Church from the Moscow Church.

Another country in the crosshairs is Bulgaria. Although many priests and congregation members belonging to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church opposed both Bartholomew’s use of the “ecumenical” title and his policy of Hellenizing the Bulgarians, he went to Sofia in mid-October.

Bartholomew, who was met with protests there, met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev. While Radev stated that the visit “would give a new impetus to the relationship between the Bulgarian Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople,” Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel hosted Bartholomew as the “Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.” Meanwhile, in addition to the Greek Ambassador to Sofia, Turkey’s Ambassador also met with Bartholomew.

Has anyone asked what Bartholomew was looking for in Bulgaria? No!..

Bartholomew, who gave an interview to a Greek newspaper recently on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of his election as Patriarch, described granting independence to the Ukrainian Church as one of the most difficult decisions of his patriarchate, while emphasizing the goal of opening the Halki Seminary. He also counted the return of Greeks to Gökçeada and the reopening of Greek schools among the “most important developments recorded on behalf of his homeland.”

While Turkish schools in Western Thrace are being closed, it is like this there... Is there anyone asking or questioning? No!..

The Pope and the “Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople”

When Bartholomew went to Italy for a mass on October 24-25, he was hosted by some ambassadors as well as Turkey’s Ambassador to the Vatican and former Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun.

More importantly, he was once again received by Vatican Head of State Pope Leo with the title “Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.”

So, was there any sound from those who shout that they will not allow Istanbul to become “Constantinople” as long as “this soul is in this body”? Again, no!..

In short; if you turn a blind eye to Lausanne being trampled upon like this, Greece and others will turn it into a “rag” too!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

October 28, 2026