EP President Jerzy Buzek replies ABTTF’s letter

President of the European Parliament, Mr. Jerzy Buzek has replied ABTTF’s letter dated 8 March 2011 on the attacks towards the places of worship belonging to the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace. President Buzek stated in his letter that the European Parliament is concerned about persistent discrimination and denial of human rights faced by persons belonging to particular religious communities including those of minorities, and will continue to encourage the approaches EU has taken in view of the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief.

ABTTF had voiced its concerns regarding the increase in hate motivated harassments and attacks towards the mosques belonging to the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace by sending a letter on 08 March 2011 to President Buzek. The letter also reported several incidents such as the attacks towards Halil Bey (Alaca) Mosque on 03 February 2011, Uysallı Mosque on 02 March 2011 along with the slaughtering of 30 sheep owned by Sali Fikret in their pen, setting fire on another barn full of cattle and knifing tyres of 3 cars and 2 tractors on the same date.

ABTTF had stated that Greece was inclined to believe that such attacks were individual cases and underlined the increasing trend in hate motivated crimes against the members, properties and places of worship belonging to the Turkish minority. ABTTF also mentioned that it has very little hope that investigations will be carried out with due diligence and the assailants will be arrested and punished. ABTTF called out to the President of the European Parliament to pay continuous attention to the racist incidents and crimes against Muslims in the Member States, including those of Greece, establish a more concrete cooperation mechanism with NGOs in reporting racism and racist hate crimes and a strengthened observation mechanism in the Member States.