In its parallel report, ABTTF expressed in detail the issues faced by the Turkish community in Western Thrace in the religious field and the current developments regarding freedom of religion.
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) prepared a parallel report in response to the 2023 International Religious Freedom Report on Greece published by the Department of State of the United States of America (USA) on 26 June 2024 and submitted it to the competent authorities of the U.S.
In its parallel report, ABTTF expressed in detail the issues faced by the Turkish community in Western Thrace, which has been granted religious autonomy in accordance with international treaties, in the religious field and the current developments regarding freedom of religion.
ABTTF noted that the state does not interfere in the internal affairs of the Greek Orthodox Church, which is the dominant religion in the country, or the Jewish Community of Greece, which is one of the known religions, but that the religious freedom and autonomy of the Muslim Turkish community in Western Thrace is violated by law and governmental practices, despite having been granted religious autonomy in accordance with the international treaties.
ABTTF indicated that the government has been appointing muftis or mufti regents in Western Thrace since 1991 in violation of the religious autonomy of the Turkish community in Western Thrace and does not recognise the muftis elected by the Turkish community.
ABTTF pointed out that the religious autonomous structure of the Turkish community was further undermined with the ‘Law on the Modernisation of the Mufti Offices’ adopted by the Greek Parliament in August 2022 despite all the objections of the Turkish community in Western Thrace and highlighted that the government appointed the administrative boards of the foundations belonging to the Turkish community since 1967 and that a law enacted in 2008 paved the way for the sale and transfer of foundation immovables to the local administrations.
ABTTF called on Greece to restore the educational and religious autonomy of the Turkish community in Western Thrace guaranteed by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and to respect the religious rights and freedoms of the Turkish community in the country.
