Content tagged with minority rights

Last week, we reported that inspectors affiliated with the Ministry of National Education had begun an inspection of minority schools and had verbally informed some Armenian schools that students from Armenia should henceforth attend either public or private schools. The inspection continued over the past week. At the ERVAB Education Commission meeting, school principals and administrators exchanged information about the inspections. A meeting at the level of foundation heads is expected to be held next week to discuss what steps should be taken.

The Hrant Dink Foundation announced that the application process for the third cohort of the HDF Minority Rights Academy has begun. The deadline to apply to the Academy is September 6, 2026.

Inspectors from the Ministry of National Education began inspecting Armenian schools last week. It has been learned that the inspectors told school administrators that Armenian schools would no longer be allowed to accept students from Armenia and that these students would have to continue their education at state schools. The inspectors are also requesting information about the prospect of students from Armenia who received education in previous years. According to information we have obtained, the inspections will not be limited to Armenian schools; Greek and Jewish schools are also included in the scope of the inspections. The Ministry of National Education’s request is being criticized on the grounds that it would restrict students’ right to education.

In Istanbul, two Greek Orthodox clergymen serving on the board of directors of minority foundations had been dismissed by the General Directorate of Foundations (VGM) on the grounds of their clerical status. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that this decision lacked any clear basis in law.

European Commission released 2016 Progress Report, which includes severe criticisms against Turkey. Released on November 9, the Report is considered as the most negative report about Turkey so far.