Country: Turkey
Group: Laz
Date: 4/23/20
Team: Erika Walker (lead), Vianney Mancilla, Colleen Clauss
The Laz people (Lazi) are an indigenous ethnic group in parts of Turkey and Georgia and are estimated to number 750,000 to 1.5 million in Turkey. However, because Turkey does not ask questions on ethnicity, religion, or language on national censuses, information on minority groups in the country is likely out of date (Minority Rights Group, 2018). Turkey does not officially recognize Lazi as a minority group along with many others, which limits “the exercise of some political and cultural rights by these groups” (Minority Rights Group, 2018). For example, the Laz language is not permitted in broadcasting (radio and TV) and similar restrictions prevent education in languages other than Turkey (International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, 2006). Minority Rights Group also notes that non-recognized groups “have been subjected to policies aimed at homogenizing the population of Turkey and destroying minority language, culture and religion” although specific groups like the Lazi are not named (2018). However, the restrictions on language use and evidence of general policies of forced assimilation in Turkey described above suggest that the Lazi may have experienced ethnocide. Information was available from credible sources but not widespread, so the data quality is rated a 2.
Sources
- International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. (2006). Turkey: A Minority Policy of Systematic Negation. https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/46963b010.pdf
- Minority Rights Group. (2018, June). Turkey. Minority Rights Group. https://minorityrights.org/country/turkey/