Middle East Forum Will Erdoğan's Islamization of Turkey End Greek Orthodoxy There? by Abdullah Bozkurt Nordic Monitor March 11, 2024

 Middle East Forum

Will Erdoğan's Islamization of Turkey End Greek Orthodoxy There?  

by Abdullah Bozkurt

Nordic Monitor

March 11, 2024

https://www.meforum.org/65663/will-erdogan-islamization-of-turkey-end-greek

Published originally under the title "The Greek Orthodox Minority in Turkey Faces the Threat of Disappearance."

Documents referenced in this article are available in the Nordic Monitor version.

Fener Greek High School for Boys, located in the Balat neighborhood of İstanbul, is one of the few functioning schools for minorities. (Photo: Nordic Monitor)

The Greek Orthodox minority in Turkey is on the brink of extinction, with the community's population dwindling to just 1,500 people, primarily comprising elderly individuals. This stark decline contrasts sharply with a century ago when the community numbered 1.4 million.

The decline can be attributed to a combination of factors such as forced repatriation, asset seizures, sustained pressure, crackdowns, unfair discrimination, profiling, relentless negative campaigning and decades-long tensions between Ankara and Athens.

The alarm bell for the dire situation of the rapidly shrinking Greek Orthodox minority was sounded in a document circulated in January at the United Nations.

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