×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Tuesday
09
Jun 2026
weather symbol
Athens 26°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

Δείτε περισσότερα άρθρα μας στα αποτελέσματα αναζήτησης

Add Protothema.gr on Google

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

Greece: Two burglars broke into a house, the homeowner fought with them and…all three were arrested!

Horror in Italy: Illegal immigrant gang kidnapped & gang-raped Colombian tourist for 72 hours – Five arrested

Sebastian Gorka: Who is the man behind the Trump Administration’s anti-Communist Manifesto who refers to the violent Left-wing extremists?

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

Interview poll: New Democracy at 31.2%, ELAS second with 16%, PASOK third with 14.7%, and an eight-party parliament

June 9, 2026

The resignation of Bakogiannis from the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEN), the scandal involving urban planning authorities, and the bet on the next day

June 9, 2026

Mitsotakis, Chania and the decision for elections, how the mini cabinet reshuffle came about, billions quietly rained down at the Posidonia, the stock-market frenzy of the World Cup

June 9, 2026

Mitsotakis kept the same Maximos Mansion team on the final stretch toward the polls: Limited government changes and the timing of the elections

June 9, 2026

Major Greek success in London for Sakellaropoulos Organic Farms

June 8, 2026

Trump wants to visit Greece, the Patriarch of Jerusalem told Mitsotakis

June 8, 2026

11 Restaurants in Milos, Chosen by People Who Go Every Summer

June 8, 2026

Dendias and his French & Dutch counterparts targeted by Turkish harassment ahead of signing agreement for French forces in Cyprus

June 8, 2026
All News

> Greece

In reverence, the emotional deposition in Jerusalem, see photos & video

The Holy Temple of the Resurrection opened after many days due to the war between Israel and Iran

April 10, 2026

In the final stretch for the accreditation of joint master’s degrees: Aiming for their launch in the coming academic year

April 10, 2026

Schedule for Epitaph Procession today (10/4)

April 10, 2026

Perfect weather for Easter excursions, according to Tsatrafyllia’s forecast

April 10, 2026

Easter in Greece: The customs that continue in Greek tradition – From Nafpaktos to Corfu

April 10, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα