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ABTTF attended the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council

24.03.2022

ABTTF, which participated in the Conclusion Session of the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism with respect to Greece, presented its recommendations on the issues regarding the recognition of the ethnic Turkish identity of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, the restoration of the educational and religious autonomy, and the execution of the ECtHR judgments as regards the freedom to form associations.

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) participated in the session titled ‘Results of the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism (UPR)’ as part of the agenda of the 49th Regular Session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council held on 28 February-1 April 2022.

ABTTF, which is in special consultation status with the UN Economic and Social Council, attended the UPR Results session held on 23-24 March 2022, where the results of the 3rd Cycle Review of Greece were discussed, and it presented its recommendations on the Turkish community in Western Thrace.

At the meeting in Geneva, which was attended by ABTTF International Affairs Director Melek Kırmacı Arık, the results of the review as regards Greece which had been tackled during the UPR Working Group on 1 November 2021 were discussed. Following the November review as regards Greece, ABTTF prepared a report in parallel with the national report submitted by Greece, citing all the issues of the Turkish community in Western Thrace and presenting its recommendations to Greece. Following the review results session held on 23 March 2022, ABTTF presented its recommendations on the issues of the Turkish community in Western Thrace regarding the results of the review.

At the session held on 23 March 2022, Greece indicated that following the review on 1 November 2021 and the report presented by the UPR Working Group, Greece had carefully examined the recommendations which were presented to Greece within the framework of the mechanism as regards the Member States of the UN Human Rights Council. Furthermore, Greece noted that it had accepted 219 of the 239 recommendations submitted to Greece, adding that they would submit an interim periodic report ahead of the next review as part of their confidence in the UPR mechanism.

Intervening at this session, Turkey noted that Greece did not accept any of the recommendations presented by Turkey with respect to the Turkish community in Western Thrace, indicating that the issues of the Turkish community in Western Thrace regarding the freedom of education, religion, the freedom to form associations and the execution of the related ECtHR judgments were persisting. Moreover, Turkey explained that Greece had not executed the ECtHR judgments for the past 14 years, adding that a cemetery in Western Thrace had recently been demolished in order to build a football field.

In its closing remarks, Greece indicated that it would continue to adhere to international law and all important human rights provisions, including the international minority standards, and fully implement the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, which ensures the livelihood and enriches the Muslim minority. 

ABTTF also presented a written statement to the UN Human Rights Council with respect to the UPR results of Greece and presented its recommendations on the issues regarding the recognition of the ethnic Turkish identity of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, the restoration of the educational and religious autonomy, and the execution of the ECtHR judgments as regards the freedom to form associations. In addition, ABTTF criticized the identification of the Turkish community in Rhodes and Kos as Muslim Greek citizens by Greece, noting that the Turkish community in Rhodes and Kos has no means of ensuring education in the mother tongue and choosing its own religious leaders.

ABTTF, which attended the final session, expressed its regrets that Greece did not accept any of the recommendations regarding the Turkish community in Western Thrace and the Turkish community in Rhodes and Kos in its oral presentation to the Council. ABTTF stated that the State intervenes in all areas of the educational and religious autonomy of the Turkish community in Western Thrace granted by the Treaty of Lausanne, noting that the ethnic Turkish identity of the Turkish community in Western Thrace is not recognised and that therefore the associations with the word ‘Turkish’ in their names are being closed. Furthermore, ABTTF reminded that although the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) had ruled against Greece in the three cases known as the Bekir-Ousta and Others Group of cases, it has not been executing the ECtHR judgments for the past 14 years.  

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