Komotini State Hospital asked doctors to use only Greek as working language

ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu: Taking into account the fact that Turkish is the most used language after Greek in the region, it is clear why the regulation received reaction from the Western Thrace Turkish Minority

With the notice published on 11 November 2013, Komotini State Hospital requested doctors pro-viding service under its premises to use only Greek as working language. The new regulation received reaction from the Minority as it was perceived as a step to prevent the use of Turkish lan-guage at the hospital where besides Greek doctors three specialists and thirteen Turkish speaking assistants are on duty.

In the letter sent to all departments Komotini State Hospital Director Hadjinestoras pointed out some assistant doctors as speaking an “unknown language” and stated that this situation could con-stitute threat to the health of patients hence doctors were requested to speak Greek with the patients. Upon the reactions from the Minority and the Turkish speaking doctors serving duty, the director of the hospital Hadjinestoras spoke to Minority daily Gündem and clarified that “inappro-priate language” as indicated at the notice does not necessarily mean Turkish, it covers beside Turkish the other languages such as Russian and other languages spoken at the migrants’ centre in Komotini. Hadjinestoras explained that the regulation does not target a certain language but only a smooth dialogue which is to be ensured by doctors’ understanding the conversation between assis-tant doctors and patient.

Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) President Halit Habipoğlu uttered “Tak-ing into account the fact that Turkish is the most used language after Greek in the region, it is clear why the regulation received reaction from the Western Thrace Turkish Minority. Publication of this notice is unfortunate amid the resolution on right against racism is about to be voted at the Greek Parliament. This has been brought to the agenda by representatives of Friendship, Equality and Peace Party (DEB) at the meeting organised by European Network Against Racism (ENAR) in presence of Greek Ombudsman.”