Association of Constantinopolitans raises Greek Minority and Patriarchate issues at OSCE Conference

The Association of Constantinopolitans made a significant statement at the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, held from September 30 to October 11, 2024. Leonidas Koumakis, the Association’s representative and former president, addressed key issues facing the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople, such as Turkey’s refusal to recognise its legal status and the continued closure of the Theological School of Chalki. He also highlighted the transformation of Hagia Sophia and the Chora Monastery into mosques, vandalism in these sites, and the systemic persecution of the Greek minority in Turkey.

Mr Koumakis emphasised that Turkey’s discrimination and intolerance against the Greek minority is part of a larger historical pattern of systematic eradication, including the genocides and pogroms from 1914-1964. The drastic reduction of the Greek population in Turkey from 130,000 to fewer than 2,000, contrasted with the thriving Muslim minority in Greek Thrace, was presented as proof of unequal treatment.

The Association further addressed issues such as the confiscation of community property, interference in minority education, and denial of inheritance rights for Greek minority members. Their participation in this conference serves to bring international attention to these critical issues affecting the Greek minority and the religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Source and photographs: cpolitan.gr