Pomak identity in Thrace faces conflicting ethnic claims

The identity of the Pomak community in Western Thrace has become a subject of dispute following conflicting claims regarding their ethnic origins.

The Pomak Cultural Association of Xanthi issued a statement asserting that the community is an indigenous population with long-standing ties to the mountains of Rodopi. The association rejects theories suggesting they migrated from other locations, emphasizing their connection to the land, the Pomak language, and local traditions. The group also noted a collective historical belief linking their ancestry to Alexander the Great.

In contrast, a Bulgarian publication has challenged this identity, characterizing the Pomaks as ‘Bulgarian Muslims.’ The report argues that the community possesses Bulgarian linguistic and historical roots, citing a 1914 census to suggest historical continuity between the current population and Bulgarian-speaking groups. The publication criticizes the Greek approach of categorizing the Muslim minority solely by religion rather than ethnicity, arguing that this obscures the distinct linguistic and historical backgrounds of the Pomaks, Turks, and Roma.