The Turkish National Assembly at Angora today unanimously passed the new Turkish constitution, which introduces for the first time in the history of Turkey a division in citizenship.
Article 88 of the constitution, which provides that all Turkish citizens, irrespective of their race or religion, should be called Turks, and enjoy the same legal rights, was amended by the following clause stating that “all minorities possessing special schools of their own, in their own language, shall be called Turks only insofar as they are compatriots.”
The purpose of this amendment is to eliminate from full-fledged citizenship the Greeks and Armenians. Among these nationalities, only these who have served in the army, speak Turkish and have adopted the Turkish culture, will be given the privilege of full Turkish citizenship.
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