Place, Country Xanthi, Greece
Year 2022
Affected group/minority Turkish community in Western Thrace
Perpetrator Municipality of Avdira
Type of case Official act by public authorities
Type of act Demolition of a historical Muslim Turkish cemetery
Media: n/a
Reactions: The representatives of civil society organisations of the Turkish
community in Western Thrace condemned the destruction.
Brief description:
On 15-16 March 2022, the Muslim Turkish cemetery from the Ottoman period in the village of Petinos/Horozlu in Xanthi was destroyed by the construction equipment of the Municipality of Avdira/Bulustra, to which the village is attached. The Municipality stated that a decision was made to build a football field, basketball courts, a playground, and social facilities in the historical cemetery area.
The Turkish government condemned the act, which attracted international attention. As a result, later the same year, the Greek authorities abandoned the plan to build the sports field over the cemetery ground.
More information on the case can be obtained through the links:
https://www.milletnews.com/western-thrace/cultural-genocide-being-commited-in-a-cemetery-of-iskece
Photo:
AA Photo, www.dailysabah.com