Yannis Vasilis

Yannis Vasilis (born Ibrahim Yaylalı) is a former Turkish ultra-nationalist[1] turned Turkish-Greek pacifist, activist, promoting and defending of Greek heritage in Turkey. A convinced Turkey nationalist, he joined the Turkish army in 1994 to fight Kurdish insurgencies.[2] Taken captive, his family requested governmental help which was declined on the basis of Yaylali to be a Greek. In 2013, he change his name to Yannis Vasilis.[2]

He was arrested on April 22, 2017,[3] for commemorating online the early 20th century genocides of Greeks and Armenians that same day.[2]

The 3 charges brought against him were for "insulting the President", "inciting people to disobey laws" and "spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization". Yaylali has been a notable activist in the Hidden Greeks, encouraging Turks to dig and revive their link to their Greek heritage. He was released in 2018.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Greek and Armenian "terrorists"! Wild comments by Erdoğan, but is he Greek himself?". May 6, 2020.
  2. News, Hellenic (July 2, 2017). "Free Yannis: Birth of Hidden Greek Movement in Turkey". Hellenic News of America. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  3. "Barış Aktivisti Yannis Vasilis Yaylalı tutuklandı". www.cumhuriyet.com.tr.
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