Greeks in Turkey Remain on Edge

11/07/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) –  A report by Ekathimerini documents how ethnic Greeks living in Turkey’s capital of Istanbul are on edge because of the country’s geopolitical conflicts.

Interviewees reference the 1955 pogrom against Greeks, the 1964 expulsion, and the 1974 invasion of Cyprus. These events followed the 1915 genocide against Greeks, as well as other religious minorities. Each of these events included a major geopolitical element as well. Interviewees express concern that today’s environment is the tensest they’ve experienced in the past few decades, and given the history, they are worried about the implications.

Before the area of what is now known as Turkey had a Turkic Muslim population, it was Christian and home to Greeks, Assyrians, and Armenians. However, centuries of persecution (motivated by both ethnicity and religion) has left those traditional communities a minority within the country. They continue to face persecution, leaving many to choose to live in a quiet way which draws little attention.