×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Thursday
08
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 12°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Greece

Backlash after ex-SYRIZA Minister compares Greeks fleeing Asia Minor disaster to modern illegal immigrants entering Greece

The SYRIZA official said Greeks were asked for a passport then, which made the situation similar to what is happening now

Newsroom February 13 09:38

A statement by former Minister of SYRIZA, Panagiotis Kouroublis equating Greeks fleeing Minor Asia during the war between Turkey and Greece to the illegal immigrants entering Greece today has caused a backlash online.

During a televised debate on immigration, the SYRIZA official said that “we had the same events we now live in on the eve of Asia Minor Disaster.”

Panagiotis Kouroublis attempted to justify his position by saying that a decree had been issued by the then government three days before the Asia Minor Disaster, saying that the Ionians would only enter if they had a passport, stating that “then the Greeks also entered Greece illegally…because they were asked to produce passports!”

Some online commentators reacted accusing the left party of going too far, while other blasted him saying it took a large amount of gaul to equate Greek refugees fleeing war in Asia Minor with illegal Congolese people entering Greece today.

During the Minor Asia disaster some 1,5 million Greeks living on the coastline of modern day Turkey were uprooted from the homes and forced to relocate to Greece.

 

Από τους συριζαίους έχουμε ακούσει τα πάντα. Αλλά αυτήν την περίοδο ξεπέρασαν και τον χειρότερο εαυτό τους.

>Related articles

Candidate VP with Kamala Harris Tim Walz withdraws over mismanagement in Minnesota

France: More than 1,000 cars burned on New Year’s Eve

Plevris: We are discussing with Germany the creation of a “return center” for illegal migrants on African soil

Κουρουμπλής: Και οι Έλληνες της Μικράς Ασίας μπήκαν ως λαθραίοι στην Ελλάδα. pic.twitter.com/gAi4ccTEpU

— Ομάδα Αλήθειας (@omadaalithias) February 12, 2020

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#Asia Minor Catastrophe#illegal immigrants#Panagiotis Kouroublis#SYRIZA Minister
> More Greece

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Audiovisual production in Greece is a driver of economic growth, with revenues of almost €1 billion according to an SPI study

January 8, 2026

Greek raisin: The raw material that has nourished generations seeks its place in the world again

January 8, 2026

Sick astronaut on mission – NASA considers early return of International Space Station crew

January 8, 2026

Outrage over video with alleged bribe dialogues at the Presidential Palace of Cyprus – “A stitched-together product,” says Nicosia

January 8, 2026

Cyprus: The “Kronos” field on the final straight for sending gas to Europe

January 8, 2026

Mitsotakis at Agios Savvas: With the renovation of the operating theaters, we will no longer have significant waiting times for patients

January 8, 2026

Giannis Voglis’s awards found in the trash – what the actor’s son says

January 8, 2026

Maria’s bill (and a manager to speak to them for a bit), the pianist Farandouris, the goo-goo ga-ga treatment of the farmers, the golden shipping dividends

January 8, 2026
All News

> Greece

Commander of the National Cyber Security Authority: No interference in Athens FIR, transmitters caused the blackout

"We know very well what happened, what we don't know yet is how it happened" said Michael Bletsas

January 8, 2026

Flight bound for Samos returns to Athens due to strong winds

January 8, 2026

Farmers accept the invitation for a meeting on Tuesday at the Maximos Mansion – Roads to reopen tomorrow with tractors moved to the side

January 8, 2026

Giorgos Papadakis – Funeral: The final farewell to the journalist at the Ritsona Crematorium, watch video and photos

January 8, 2026

Weather: Rain, falling temperatures and gale-force winds through Sunday – which areas will be affected

January 8, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα