Öz
After the Treaty of Lausanne, there is a great deal of activity and diversity in the media life of Western Thrace Turks. Mehmet Hilmi, who stands out with his teacher and journalist identity, displays a local intellectual profile that has contributed significantly to the organizational structure in the Western Thrace society. In the post-Lausanne period, Mehmet Hilmi was a mong the founders of the "Xanthi Turkish Youth Land”, the first association and union organization of the Western Thrace Turks. On the other hand, he made a name for himself with the newspapers he published in the press life.
Mehmet Hilmi contributed to the publication of many newspapers and magazines both on his own and with his friends. One of these newspapers is Yeni Ziya, an editorial published in 1924. Yeni Ziya, the first Turkish newspaper of Western Thrace Turks, ensured the name of Mehmet Hilmi to be heard by large circles. After that, Mehmet Hilmi became the supporter of the changes in Turkey in Yeni Yol and Yeni Adım during their short publishing life. He led to many debates by building a revolutionist discourse against conservative writers, who had took shelter in Western Thrace, with his articles that educational system is discussed as linked to the alphabet reform.
Our paper’s subject is the writings that depict a period in which the visible discussions on the socio-political dilemma of Western Thrace Turks take place, as well as identity and belonging.