Greek Muslims

Ethnic group Greek Muslims , also known as Greek-speaking Muslims , are Muslims of Greek ethnic origin, and are found primarily in Turkey , Cyprus , and Greece , although migrations to Lebanon and Syria have been reported . Historically, Greek Orthodoxy has been associated with being Roman i.e. Greek and Islam with being " Turk " (Τούρκος), despite ethnic or linguistic references. Most Greek-speaking Muslims in Greece left for Turkey during the 1920s population exchanges under the Treaty of Lausanne (sometimes in return for Turkish-speaking Christians), with the exception of the Muslims in Thrace, who are officially recognized as a minority. The largest community of Greek-speaking Muslims in today's Greece is among Dodecanese Muslims who were spared from the population exchange due to Italian rule over the islands.

Ethnic group Ethnic group Greek Muslims , also known as Grecophone Muslims , are Muslims of Greek ethnic origin whose adoption of Islam (and often the Turkish language and identity) dates to the period of Ottoman rule in the southern Balkans . They consist primarily of the descendants of the elite Ottoman Janissary corps and Ottoman-era converts to Islam from Greek Macedonia (e.g., Vallahades ), Crete ( Cretan Muslims ), northeastern Anatolia and the Pontic Alps ( Pontic Greeks ). They are currently found mainly in western Turkey (particularly the regions of Izmir , Bursa , and Edirne ) and northeastern Turkey (particularly in the regions of Trabzon , Gümüşhane , Sivas , Erzincan , Erzurum , and Kars (see also Caucasus Greeks of Georgia and Kars Oblast and Islam in Georgia ). Despite their ethnic Greek origin, the contemporary Grecophone Muslims of Turkey regarding their identity have been steadily assimilated into the Turkish-speaking (and in the northeast Laz-speaking ) Muslim population. Apart from their elders, sizable numbers, even the young within these Grecophone Muslim communities have retained a knowledge of Greek and or its dialects such as Cretan Greek and Pontic Greek , though very few are likely to call themselves Greek Muslims . This is due to gradual assimilation into Turkish society, as well as the close association of Greece and Greeks with Orthodox Christianity and their perceived status as a historic, military threat to the Turkish Republic . In Greece, Greek-speaking Muslims are not usually considered as forming part of the Greek nation. In the late Ottoman period (particularly following the Greco-Turkish war of 1897–98) several communities of Grecophone Muslims from Crete and southern Greece were also relocated to Libya , Lebanon and Syria , where in towns like al-Hamidiyah some of the older generation continue to speak Greek. Historically, Greek Orthodoxy has been associated with being Romios , i.e. Greek , and Islam with being Turkish , despite ethnic or linguistic references. Most Greek speaking Muslims in Greece left for Turkey during the 1920s population exchanges under the Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations (sometimes in return for Turkish-speaking Christians such as the Karamanlides ). Due to the historical role of the millet system, religion and not ethnicity or language was the main factor used during the exchange of populations. All Muslims who departed Greece were seen as "Turks", whereas all Orthodox people leaving Turkey were considered "Greeks", regardless of ethnicity or language. An exception was made for Muslims ( Pomaks and Western Thrace Turks ) who inhabit east of river Nestos which is in East Macedonia and Thrace , Northern Greece , who are officially recognized as a religious, but controversially not as an ethnic minority by the Greek Government. In Turkey, where most Greek-speaking Muslims live, there are various groups of Grecophone Muslims, some autochthonous, some from parts of present-day Greece and Cyprus who migrated to Turkey under the population exchanges or immigration. Language and national identity in Greece, 1766–1976 . Some communities of Greek-speaking Muslims lived in Macedonia. Muslims, most of them native speakers of Greek, formed a slight majority of the population of Crete in the early nineteenth century. On this level, even Kemal, unbeliever as he was, was loyal to the Muslim community as such. Kemal would not let a Muslim-born girl be married to an infidel. Especially in the early years (as was illustrated in the transfer of populations with Greece) being a Turk was still defined more by religion than by language: Greek-speaking Muslims were Turks (and indeed they wrote their Greek with the Turkish letters) and Turkish-speaking Christians were Greeks (they wrote their Turkish with Greek letters). Though language was the ultimate criterion of the community, the folk-religion was so important that it might outweigh even language in determining basic cultural allegiance, within a local context." Poulton, Hugh (2000). "The Muslim experience in the Balkan states, 1919‐1991." Nationalities Papers . 28 . "In these exchanges, due to the influence of the millet system (see below), religion not ethnicity or language was the key factor, with all the Muslims expelled from Greece seen as "Turks," and all the Orthodox people expelled from Turkey seen as "Greeks" regardless of mother tongue or ethnicity." See Hugh Poulton, 'The Balkans: minorities and states in conflict', Minority Rights Publications, 1991.

Ethnic group This article is about Muslims of Greek ethnic origin who today live mainly in Turkey, Albania, Libya, Syria and Lebanon, and notable Greek Muslims of the past and present. Ethnic group Greek Muslims , also known as Grecophone Muslims , are Muslims of Greek ethnic origin whose adoption of Islam (and often the Turkish language and identity) dates to the period of Ottoman rule in the southern Balkans . They consist primarily of Ottoman-era converts to Islam from Greek Macedonia (e.g., Vallahades ), Crete ( Cretan Muslims ), and northeastern Anatolia and the northeast (particularly in the regions of Trabzon , Gümüşhane , Sivas , Erzincan , Erzurum , and Kars ). Despite their ethnic Greek origin, the contemporary Grecophone Muslims of Turkey have been steadily assimilated into the Turkish-speaking Muslim population. Sizable numbers of Grecophone Muslims, not merely the elders but even young people, have retained knowledge of their respective Greek dialects , such as Cretan and Pontic Greek . Because of their gradual Turkification , as well as the close association of Greece and Greeks with Orthodox Christianity and their perceived status as a historic, military threat to the Turkish Republic , very few are likely to call themselves Greek Muslims . In Greece, Greek-speaking Muslims are not usually considered as forming part of the Greek nation. In the late Ottoman period, particularly after the Greco-Turkish War (1897) , several communities of Grecophone Muslims from Crete and southern Greece were also relocated to Libya , Lebanon , and Syria , where, in towns like al-Hamidiyah , some of the older generation continue to speak Greek. Historically, Greek Orthodoxy has been associated with being Romios (i.e., Greek ) and Islam with being Turkish , despite ethnicity or language. Most Greek-speaking Muslims in Greece left for Turkey during the 1920s population exchanges under the Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations (in return for Turkish-speaking Christians such as the Karamanlides ). Due to the historical role of the millet system, religion and not ethnicity or language was the main factor used during the exchange of populations. All Muslims who departed Greece were seen as "Turks," whereas all Orthodox people leaving Turkey were considered "Greeks," again regardless of their ethnicity or language. An exception was made for the native Muslim Pomaks and Western Thrace Turks living east of the River Nestos in East Macedonia and Thrace , Northern Greece , who are officially recognized as a religious minority by the Greek government. In Turkey, where most Greek-speaking Muslims live, there are various groups of Grecophone Muslims, some autochthonous, some from parts of present-day Greece and Cyprus who migrated to Turkey under the population exchanges or immigration. Language and national identity in Greece, 1766–1976 . Some communities of Greek-speaking Muslims lived in Macedonia. Muslims, most of them native speakers of Greek, formed a slight majority of the population of Crete in the early nineteenth century. On this level, even Kemal, unbeliever as he was, was loyal to the Muslim community as such. Kemal would not let a Muslim-born girl be married to an infidel. Especially in the early years (as was illustrated in the transfer of populations with Greece) being a Turk was still defined more by religion than by language: Greek-speaking Muslims were Turks (and indeed they wrote their Greek with the Turkish letters) and Turkish-speaking Christians were Greeks (they wrote their Turkish with Greek letters). Though language was the ultimate criterion of the community, the folk-religion was so important that it might outweigh even language in determining basic cultural allegiance, within a local context." Poulton, Hugh (2000). "The Muslim experience in the Balkan states, 1919‐1991." Nationalities Papers . 28 . "In these exchanges, due to the influence of the millet system (see below), religion not ethnicity or language was the key factor, with all the Muslims expelled from Greece seen as "Turks," and all the Orthodox people expelled from Turkey seen as "Greeks" regardless of mother tongue or ethnicity." See Hugh Poulton, 'The Balkans: minorities and states in conflict', Minority Rights Publications, 1991.

Ethnic group This article is about Muslims of Greek ethnic origin who today live mainly in Turkey, Albania, Libya, Syria and Lebanon, and notable Greek Muslims of the past and present. Ethnic group Greek Muslims , also known as Grecophone Muslims , are Muslims of Greek ethnic origin whose adoption of Islam (and often the Turkish language and identity in more recent times) dates either from the contact of early Arabic dynasties of the Middle East with the Byzantine Empire or to the period of Ottoman rule in the southern Balkans and Anatolia . In more recent times, they consist primarily of descendants of Ottoman-era converts to Islam from Greek Macedonia (e.g., Vallahades ), Crete ( Cretan Muslims ), and northeastern Anatolia (particularly in the regions of Trabzon , Gümüşhane , Sivas , Erzincan , Erzurum , and Kars ). Despite their ethnic Greek origin, the contemporary Grecophone Muslims of Turkey have been steadily assimilated into the Turkish-speaking Muslim population. Sizable numbers of Grecophone Muslims, not merely the elders but even young people, have retained knowledge of their respective Greek dialects , such as Cretan and Pontic Greek . Because of their gradual Turkification , as well as the close association of Greece and Greeks with Orthodox Christianity and their perceived status as a historic, military threat to the Turkish Republic , very few are likely to call themselves Greek Muslims . In Greece, Greek-speaking Muslims are not usually considered as forming part of the Greek nation. In the late Ottoman period, particularly after the Greco-Turkish War (1897) , several communities of Greek Muslims from Crete and southern Greece were also relocated to Libya , Lebanon , and Syria , where, in towns like al-Hamidiyah , some of the older generation continue to speak Greek. Historically, Greek Orthodoxy has been associated with being Romios (i.e., Greek ) and Islam with being Turkish , despite ethnicity or language. Most Greek-speaking Muslims in Greece left for Turkey during the 1920s population exchanges under the Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations (in return for Turkish-speaking Christians such as the Karamanlides ). Due to the historical role of the millet system, religion and not ethnicity or language was the main factor used during the exchange of populations. All Muslims who departed Greece were seen as "Turks," whereas all Orthodox people leaving Turkey were considered "Greeks," again regardless of their ethnicity or language. An exception was made for the native Muslim Pomaks and Western Thrace Turks living east of the River Nestos in East Macedonia and Thrace , Northern Greece , who are officially recognized as a religious minority by the Greek government. In Turkey, where most Greek-speaking Muslims live, there are various groups of Grecophone Muslims, some autochthonous, some from parts of present-day Greece and Cyprus who migrated to Turkey under the population exchanges or through immigration. Language and national identity in Greece, 1766–1976 . Some communities of Greek-speaking Muslims lived in Macedonia. Muslims, most of them native speakers of Greek, formed a slight majority of the population of Crete in the early nineteenth century. On this level, even Kemal, unbeliever as he was, was loyal to the Muslim community as such. Kemal would not let a Muslim-born girl be married to an infidel. Especially in the early years (as was illustrated in the transfer of populations with Greece) being a Turk was still defined more by religion than by language: Greek-speaking Muslims were Turks (and indeed they wrote their Greek with the Turkish letters) and Turkish-speaking Christians were Greeks (they wrote their Turkish with Greek letters). Though language was the ultimate criterion of the community, the folk-religion was so important that it might outweigh even language in determining basic cultural allegiance, within a local context." Poulton, Hugh (2000). "The Muslim experience in the Balkan states, 1919‐1991." Nationalities Papers . 28 . "In these exchanges, due to the influence of the millet system (see below), religion not ethnicity or language was the key factor, with all the Muslims expelled from Greece seen as "Turks," and all the Orthodox people expelled from Turkey seen as "Greeks" regardless of mother tongue or ethnicity." See Hugh Poulton, 'The Balkans: minorities and states in conflict', Minority Rights Publications, 1991.