Rebetiko ‘created a great curiosity in me about Greece,’ says Athens-based Turkish historian

Historian Sukru Ilicak has dedicated his life to the study of the Greek Revolution. He loves rebetiko and reknowned songwriter and composer Vassilis Tsitsanis, "because his best songs are 'hijaz,' which are my favorite, and so I feel a strong kinship with him," as well as singer Marika Ninou, "for her unique voice and her painful life."

Ilicak has lived in Athens for many years, is married to a Greek, and, although he had the opportunity to pursue an academic career in the United States, says would not trade Greece for any other country. A few days after acquiring Greek citizenship, the Ottoman scholar spoke to Kathimerini.

What does it mean to you now that you are officially a Greek citizen?

I have dedicated a very important part of my life to Greek-Turkish relations - and not only from a scientific point of view, that is, through my...