Thrace sends an SOS
What will be the future of the much discussed area of Greece? Is there a limit in the Turkification of the residents? What will be the position of the few Christians? Which is ultimately the oppressed minority?
We are alone and we fight to save our language, our culture and our faith" say the Christian residents. "Most villages in the Rhodope are longer Muslim."
"The land belongs to anyone who currently resides in it", say the Muslims who came down from the mountains and now determine the character of the area, because now they are almost the majority instead of minority.
"We may have Greek nationality but in our veins flows Turkish blood" clarifies the Hoxha of Iasmos.
The Newsbomb.gr traveled to Thrace, the visited the villages of Rhodope and the villages of Iasmos where the Muslim population has literally swallowed Christians in the name of a good and peaceful coexistence, surrounded by all elements of an insidious plan, which neither themselves know that they serve .
Vacant churches, imposing mosques, coeducational schools, depressive squares.
We crossed the valley from Komotini to Xanthi and the Rhodope slope and felt the loneliness of residents living in a multicultural Thrace, fearing always of a plan of Turkey which is showing great potential in the region.
In an area where there is a guilty silence of the Greek government for its creation and the depressive peace of Erdogan, Christians try to survive in their neighborhoods, which seem to be more like in Turkey and less in Greek land. And although the East element attracts tourism, with the mosques and oriental temperament, here is alienating and chasing away the locals who want their country to have its true flavor and color.
Even if they leave the keys out of their door without fear, as Christians residents say, even if the Muslim neighbor would help them in a difficult time, even if they breathe the same air, deep inside them there is a simmering cauldron and they do not know when it will overflow.
The insecurity and frustration co-exist into their daily lives. It is not easy and wise to tell the truth about what you feel when the aggrieved party opens each morning its windows and you are the first to tell you hello.
"Now we live in peace, but if Erdogan wakes up one morning in a bad mood, then what will happen? All around us are His. Should we dance to the rhythm that will he plays? Should we abandon our homes as they did most of the citizens? Many heard about the appetites of Turkey". These are the words of a young mathematician who is forced to learn Turkish to do private lessons to children, since most children in his region are Muslims.
Most Christians do not want to state it clearly, but the truth is clear through their plaintive look. They are living among Muslims and are afraid to openly express what they might like to say.
We gave the villages in Rhodope to the Turks without a second thought. The plan Kallikratis consummated this action and now in Iasmos and its villages, every day the Christians dwindle.
Either because they leave in order to live in other areas either because Muslims are multiplying, they buy property and become the masters of the place.
The presence of the Muslim minority in Western Thrace can be relied on the Treaty of Lausanne (population exchange), but the handling of the Greek Government to date indicate that closes eyes to a problem that will soon be found in front, of the challenge of the Hellenism of these territories .
At the last election the mayor and all Governing Board were Muslims. "It is also our fault (may say some people of the opposition) since we did not deigned to be on the ballot of a Muslim candidate. Now, they decide for this place and serve well the interests of Turkey by following the dictates of the Turkish consulate in Komotini."
We all know very well that the consulate financially supports all Muslims of the region: the unemployed, students, their families, gives money to buy houses and land in the villages of Thrace, youngsters studying in Turkey and in other universities and preparing everything for the next day.
In Komotini today 55% of the population is Muslims. In the Rhodope villages where we traveled, in Iasmos municipality 75% are Muslims.
The villages Amaxades, Pelekiti, Grigoro in Xanthi, Simantra, Fillia, Koptero, Lino, Polyanthos and Galini are all minority villages with a strong presence of Muslims, coming out from the mosques, clothing, social behavior.
The population growth of Muslims in Thrace, at a time when the rest of the population has steadily decreased due to urbanization and migration, is the best answer to the allegations of Turkey for allegedly oppressed minority, since anyone who actually is suppressed sooner or later leave as happened with the Greeks in Costantinople, Imbros and Tenedos.
Helen Apostolidou, a resident of Iasmos is the only Christian who works at the city hall which is running by the Muslims. Since she was born she can remember to live in this state.
"I was born here, me and my children. I learned to live among them and to survive. I could not do otherwise. Otherwise I would have to leave my place as did many of us. They sold their homes to Muslims and left for other places. We delivered our land because some could not stand living with them. We do not have problems with the ordinary people and often feel more confidence in them than in others, but up to there. We differ in many things although we are few; in culture, in searches in our social life. Now, of course, their own children are studying, have been modernized, have other requirements. They come back ready to take action."
Kosmas Karaiskos who is in the local government in Komotini, cannot withstand the influence of the Turkish consulate over his head. He gives a daily fight against the consulate through public campaign and he reveals the action of the consulate and the pseudo-muftis, who is playing wicked games of Turkey in the homeland, as he says.
He complains against the MPs of the region, who left things without supervision, who left Thrace facing today a big enemy, right in front of the door.
"We've lost the game on this side of Greece. Only with Pomaks we have time to gain ground as a country, if we want, but these are being blackmailed and no longer say that they are Pomaks. They are afraid."
The parish priest in Iasmos Archimandrite Damascenos, who we met, is sitting in the courtyard of the church of Agia Paraskevi and endures the tricks of young Muslims who were passing constantly from the neighborhood of Christians with broken exhaust pipes in their motorcycles. He did not wish to comment on the retaliation of Muslims. "We try to keep our faith and live peacefully. We cannot do anything else. It is difficult sometimes but we try. I salute them I ask them about their life, I give a job to someone who needs a wage and I do not want rivalries. We live here; we do not know what will happen tomorrow what we will find in front of our door."
The few parishioners, exploded: "So they want to throw us out of our homes, to take them all. They pass with their motorcycles, 24 hours a day, from the Christian neighborhood and make terrible noise. They spit and catch their genitals when they see Father passes. They do not want us. We are telling you; they just do not want to say themselves openly. They say "we spit on you, Greeks", even the small children. We went to the Hodja and asked him to say something to them. We try to have good relations with them, we have good relationships with most of them, but this is happening because we have to do it. We differ in culture, in everyday life, in our thinking, in our beliefs. And at the end we're soaked with all that are happening."
Hodja shortly after the afternoon prayer met us at the mosque, which is located in the downtown area. "I might have Greek nationality but I am Turkish. In my veins flows Turkish blood and it does not change. It would be a lie to say something else. I am Turkish. Yet, we go on national holidays, we greet, we talk, we exchange wishes at weddings and funerals. We live in the same area but we are not the same, how can be otherwise?"
In the travelogue of newsbomb.gr you will read what the Muslims told us, in Amaxades and Pelekiti (villages entirely Muslim anymore) for Thrace and the Pomaks, which is another thorn in history.
You will read about the extortion that accept residents, mostly Pomaks, who do not declare Turks.
You will see the Turkish signs in local shops and how the few Christians preserve the few things which were left, by the period that the villages were still Christian.
You will read the entire interview of Hodja and of the people who unmask the real action of the Turkish consulate, in the journalistic mission of Maria Giachnaki for Newsbomb.gr.
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