EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis). The historical and genetic ties between modern-day Turks and Greeks have been the subject of significant investigation in recent years, and the findings are both surprising and revealing. Helleniscope has consistently reported on groundbreaking DNA studies conducted in Turkey, which demonstrate that modern Turks are, on average, 50% Greek, with the remaining ancestry predominantly Armenian, Kurdish, and other ethnic backgrounds. These findings challenge long-held narratives surrounding the origins and identity of the Turkish people to the point that the Turkish government has banned DNA tests. But the truth always comes out in the end. One of the more striking revelations that these reports bring to light is that those who converted to Islam and underwent “Turkification” – the so-called “janissaries” – are often more fanatic in their nationalism. This is story proves that it is not always the case…
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A Turk of Greek Descent Burns the Turkish Flag and Accuses Mustafa Kemal of Creating a Fake State
Ilhan Enver Rüstem, a Turkish citizen of Greek descent, made a significant stir in Turkey after discovering his true heritage through DNA testing. He accused Mustafa Kemal Atatürk of creating a “false state” built on “white slaves” and claims that this deception has been perpetrated for decades. This shocking admission contradicts the widely accepted narratives of modern Turkish identity, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the nation-state established by Kemal Atatürk.
Rüstem, who had recently learned of his Greek origins, made a bold gesture by burning the Turkish flag, and he plans to do the same at the Turkish consulate in Munich, despite threats from Turkish nationalists, including the notorious Grey Wolves. In his statements, Rüstem shared his emotional response to the revelation of his Greek blood, stating, “For this DNA, my blood, my flesh, is Greek. It was proven to be Greek.” 
This discovery is not unique—many Turks have uncovered their Greek, Armenian, or Kurdish roots through genetic testing, revealing the ethnic diversity that the country has long suppressed. While some individuals choose to remain silent about their true heritage, others, like Rüstem, undergo a dramatic transformation in their personal identity.
With the rise of genetic testing, more and more Turkish citizens and diaspora communities are realizing they are part of “Turkified” nations that predominantly have roots in Greece, Armenia, and other regions. These revelations are shaking the very foundation of the Turkish state, challenging the notion that modern Turks are a homogenous ethnic group.
Notably, Turkish economist Ege Cansen has also contributed to this debate, providing evidence that thousands of Greeks still live in Asia Minor. He argues that the theory of the Turks’ victory over Byzantium a thousand years ago and the forced expulsion of Greeks from the region is a myth that does not benefit modern Turkey. He emphasizes that the lands where the Turks settled in Anatolia were not empty but inhabited by Armenians, Greeks, Kurds, Arabs, and other people, many of whom were forced to assimilate under Ottoman rule.
This complex history of forced assimilation, ethnic cleansing, and the refusal to recognize the suffering of minority groups continues to shape modern Turkish identity. The Turkish state refers to its Greek minority as “Rûm,” a term that distinguishes them from Greeks in Greece, further deepening the divide and obfuscating the shared history of the peoples in the region.
