Defending our union and rights

The first day of the GIRIT TURK BIRLIGI have been troublesome. Some of our Greek friends think we are a threat to Girit and Greece. Our union does not claim Girit is Turkish (today) or do we promote hatred between the two people. We are a group of Turks (holders of both Greek and Turkish passports) who wish to organize and promote our culture and identity among Turks and Greeks alike. The Turkish elements of Girit are clear in everyday language (turkish words like hadi,hava etc), naming of locations (valide camii,yedi kule etc.) and local cusine (baklava,dolmasi,cacik etc.) were ALL influenced by the Turkish population that lived in Girit during the Ottoman administration on the island.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Genocide of Griti Turks in 1897

Here follows a report on Al Hamidiyah, the city built as an asylum to Girit Turks escaping the genocide of the Girit Turks in 1897 by the greeks.

Al Hamidiyah is a town on the coastal Syrian line about 3km from the Lebanese border. The town was founded in a very short time on direct orders from the Turkish Sultan 'Abdu'l-Hamid II circa 1897, to serve as refuge for the Cretan Turks fleeing from the genocide of Turks and Muslims in Crete in the aftermath of the departure of Turkish troops from the island. The town is home to about 8000 people, with the majority still speaking Cretan Greek and Turkish.

Henry Noel Brailsford, an eyewitness of the immediate aftermath, uses the term "wholescale massacre" to describe the events of 1897 in Crete, in a definition corroborated also by other sources.

Movement for the Turkish Union of Girit

The movement for the formation of the TURKISH UNION OF GIRIT has started.

A statement of the Union's purpose and mission will be released shortly after the first informal meeting of the first members will take place.

Everyone who is interested in helping the TURKISH UNION OF GIRIT can contact us through this website.