Translated from Turkish into English by Marcus A. Templar, National Security Advisor, Macedonian League
Anton Aldemir, on the right, participating in a Greek genocide commemoration event in Stuttgart, Germany in 2017. The sign reads: [Top] "From Mustafa Kemal to Erdogan"; [Middle] "Genocides Continue"; [Bottom] "The Revolutionary Black Sea" Anton Aldemir lives in Switzerland since June 2011. At the beginning of this year, he went to the Turkish Embassy in Bern to obtain a new passport. The Consular office of the Embassy took his old passport but told him that he would not receive a new one because Turkey had issued a warrant for his arrest on sight.
Anton Aldemir as he was growing up was raised by his family as a Muslim. As a result of inquiries, he found out from his father named Manav that on his mother’s side [Anton] was a Greek. He was born and reared in the center of Izmit (ancient Nicomedia) Province and learned through a DNA testing in 2012 that he is not an ethnic Turk from Central Asia, but Anton’s ancestors have lived in Asia Minor for thousands of years.
A tradition that attracted his attention led him to search for his identity. The fact that the Cappadocia Greeks played in folk songs using spoons just like they did in Anton’s family and realizing that his ancestors played “defi”, [an instrument] made from animal skin and a few other traditional characteristics led him to his [ethnic] identity. He learned that his grandmother's brother (Pehlivan Çakıcı İzzet of Izmit) was Greek speaking or Hellene.
Anton read many works written in this subject as books, articles, etc. and learned about the anguish that occurred in this land a hundred years ago. Similar tragedies happened to Armenians, Syriacs [Assyrians] and Greeks or Hellenes and he started discussions exchanging information with others about the matter.
Anton Aldemir as he was growing up was raised by his family as a Muslim. As a result of inquiries, he found out from his father named Manav that on his mother’s side [Anton] was a Greek. He was born and reared in the center of Izmit (ancient Nicomedia) Province and learned through a DNA testing in 2012 that he is not an ethnic Turk from Central Asia, but Anton’s ancestors have lived in Asia Minor for thousands of years.
A tradition that attracted his attention led him to search for his identity. The fact that the Cappadocia Greeks played in folk songs using spoons just like they did in Anton’s family and realizing that his ancestors played “defi”, [an instrument] made from animal skin and a few other traditional characteristics led him to his [ethnic] identity. He learned that his grandmother's brother (Pehlivan Çakıcı İzzet of Izmit) was Greek speaking or Hellene.
Anton read many works written in this subject as books, articles, etc. and learned about the anguish that occurred in this land a hundred years ago. Similar tragedies happened to Armenians, Syriacs [Assyrians] and Greeks or Hellenes and he started discussions exchanging information with others about the matter.
Anton Aldemir In 2011 he was baptized converting to the Orthodox Christian faith. In the meantime, he petitioned the Court to change his first name to Anton.
Now Anton has dedicated every aspect of his life to expose the painful events that happened in that land [in Turkey] a hundred years ago. He supports all activities related to those topics to any extent possible.
Anton, who was also involved in the commemoration of the Pontian* Greek Genocide in Stuttgart in 2017. He has been exposed to insults and threats on social media with news and photographs that he was involved in that activity.
In January 2018, his sister, who lives in Izmit, was taken into custody by the Police for interrogation. She was asked about Anton’s whereabouts. During the interrogation, Anton's sister responded, "You are forcing people to become Christians" and after they questioned her further they released her.
Anton currently lives in Switzerland, but since Turkey has confiscated his passport he cannot travel abroad. Despite the initiatives he has made, the Consular office has not given him an official response.
Source: Devrimci Karadeniz (Revolutionary Black Sea)
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Note by the Macedonian League:
* The Macedonian League recognizes the genocide of the Greeks in Asia Minor as the "Greek Genocide"
Now Anton has dedicated every aspect of his life to expose the painful events that happened in that land [in Turkey] a hundred years ago. He supports all activities related to those topics to any extent possible.
Anton, who was also involved in the commemoration of the Pontian* Greek Genocide in Stuttgart in 2017. He has been exposed to insults and threats on social media with news and photographs that he was involved in that activity.
In January 2018, his sister, who lives in Izmit, was taken into custody by the Police for interrogation. She was asked about Anton’s whereabouts. During the interrogation, Anton's sister responded, "You are forcing people to become Christians" and after they questioned her further they released her.
Anton currently lives in Switzerland, but since Turkey has confiscated his passport he cannot travel abroad. Despite the initiatives he has made, the Consular office has not given him an official response.
Source: Devrimci Karadeniz (Revolutionary Black Sea)
--
Note by the Macedonian League:
* The Macedonian League recognizes the genocide of the Greeks in Asia Minor as the "Greek Genocide"
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