I was born in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 3 December 1976. At birth, I was a Greek citizen through my parents, who belonged to the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace and were registered in the Municipality of Neo Sidirochori, Rhodope, Greece.
When I was only nine years old, my life changed forever.
On 29 August 1986, I lost my Greek citizenship under the former Article 19 of the Greek Citizenship Code—a law that disproportionately affected members of the Turkish Muslim Minority of Western Thrace. I had no voice, no opportunity to defend myself, and no understanding of what citizenship even meant. Yet I lost it.
Although Article 19 was repealed in 1998, my citizenship was never restored. Like thousands of others affected by this law, I have continued to live with the consequences.
Today, I am still stateless.
I legally reside in Türkiye under a humanitarian residence permit and rely on a 1954 Convention Travel Document. Every time I need to renew this document, the process takes months, during which I cannot travel abroad.
This is more than an administrative inconvenience.
I own an international education consultancy that helps students pursue education abroad. My work depends on international mobility—meeting universities, attending education fairs, visiting partner institutions and supporting students throughout their journeys. Every delay in receiving my travel document means cancelled meetings, missed opportunities, financial losses and uncertainty.
Being stateless affects every aspect of life. It is not only about the absence of a nationality; it is about living without the legal security and freedom of movement that most people take for granted.
Despite these challenges, I have not given up.
I am now seeking to recover my Greek citizenship through lawful means and am reaching out to human rights organisations, legal experts and international institutions for guidance and support. My goal is not only to restore my own legal identity but also to raise awareness of the continuing impact that former Article 19 has had on many families.
No child should lose their nationality because of a discriminatory law.
No one should spend decades living with the consequences of a decision they were too young to understand.
I hope that by sharing my story, I can contribute to greater awareness of statelessness and encourage meaningful solutions for those who continue to live without a nationality.
