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Although ethnic Macedonians in northern Greece make up a large
minority with their own language and culture, their
internationally-recognized human rights and even their existence
are vigorously denied by the Greek government. Free expression
is restricted; several Macedonians have been prosecuted and
convicted for the peaceful expression of their views. Moreover,
ethnic Macedonians are discriminated against by the government's
failure to permit the teaching of the Macedonian language. And
ethnic Macedonians, particularly rights activists, are harassed
by the government - followed and threatened by security forces -
and subjected to economic and social pressures resulting from
this harassment. All of these actions have led to a marked
climate of fear in which a large number of ethnic Macedonians
are reluctant to assert their Macedonian identity or to express
their views openly. Ethnic Macedonian political refugees who
fled northern Greece after the Greek Civil War of 1946-49, as
well as their descendants who identify themselves as
Macedonians, are denied permission to regain their citizenship,
to resettle in, or even to visit northern Greece. By contrast,
all of these are possible for political refugees who define
themselves as Greeks. Greek courts have denied permission to
establish a "Center for Macedonian Culture." Ultimately, the
government is pursuing every avenue to deny the Macedonians of
Greece their ethnic identity.
THE FOLLOWING VIDEOS DEPICT MACEDONIANS AND THEIR LIVES IN
GREECE, IN THE PAST AND PRESENT.
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