ABTTF President: “Considering that our country Greece has failed to execute the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments regarding the Bekir-Ousta and Others group of cases for the past 18 years and has completely disregarded them, this latest decision is not of a legal nature but is entirely political in character, demonstrating that the court has disregarded ECtHR judgments and case-law. We will not remain silent in face of this injustice and will inform the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe about this decision.”
The appeal filed by the Western Thrace Fenerbahçe Culture and Sports Association—which had been ordered to be dissolved by the Civil Court of Rodopi on grounds that the phrase “Western Thrace” in its name evoked the Turkish minority, pursuant to Decision No. 135/2026 of the Court of Appeals of Thrace —has been rejected.
In a written statement issued by the association, it was noted that the decision of the Court of Appeals of Thrace dealt a severe blow to the principles of impartial and independent judiciary and the sense of justice that citizens of a country should possess, and it was stated that the association would continue its legal struggle to the end.
A lawsuit was filed seeking the revocation of the association’s registration on grounds that the phrase “Western Thrace” in the name of the Western Thrace Fenerbahçe Culture and Sports Association—founded in Komotini on 28 May 2022—violated law and public order, and the Court of First Instance with a Single Judge of Rodopi ruled on 28 May 2024 to dissolve the association.
“We condemn this decision by the Court of Appeals of Thrace, which constitutes yet another clear violation of the freedom of association of the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace. As ABTTF, we wish to make it known that we stand by our Western Thrace Fenerbahçe Culture and Sports Association to the very end in its just legal struggle. Considering that our country Greece has failed to execute the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments regarding the Bekir-Ousta and Others group of cases for the past 18 years and has completely disregarded them, this latest decision is not of a legal nature but is entirely political in character, demonstrating that the court has disregarded ECtHR judgments and case-law. The report published in May 2026 by the Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations (CINGOs), affiliated with the Council of Europe, regarding our country also highlighted that the obstruction of our associations’ activities is incompatible with the principles of a democratic society and poses serious issues regarding pluralism and freedom of association. We will not remain silent in face of this injustice and will inform the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe about this decision”, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).
