ABTTF prepared a parallel report on the U.S. 2011 International Religious Freedom Report on Greece

ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu: With the parallel report, we are aiming to make the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace have a say in issues which directly concern itself

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) prepared a parallel report on the International Religious Freedom Report for 2011 on Greece which was released by the U.S. Department of State on July 30, 2012, submitted it to the competent U.S. authorities.

ABTTF states in its parallel report that the thesis of the Greek Government that the Muslims living outside Thrace are not covered by the Treaty of Lausanne cannot be put fort an excuse that the Turkish community living in the islands of Rhodes and Kos is deprived of its minority rights.

ABTTF reminds that the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace has been granted by the 1923 Lausanne Peace Treaty the right to establish and manage its own educational institutions where the language of education is in its mother tongue which is Turkish, noting that the 0.5 % quota applied to the Turkish minority as a measure of positive discrimination has had a limited influence due to the poor level of quality in education in minority schools and differences in educational level of many Turkish minority students attending the Greek universities.

ABTTF notes that the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace has the right to elect its religious leaders (Muftis) under the 1913 Athens Treaty, adding that abolition of the recognition of Shari’a unilaterally by the Greek Government would be a breach of its obligations derived from international treaties to which Greece is a party.

ABTTF: Hate-motivated attacks have increased considerably following the entrance of Golden Dawn to the Greek Parliament

ABTTF states also in its parallel report that in the period following the entrance of the far right political party Golden Dawn (Chrysi Avgi) to the Greek Parliament as a result of the general elections on 17 June 2012, xenophobic violence and hate-motivated attacks have increased in the country, adding that the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace is being also affected by this hostile environment although all its members are Greek citizens. ABTTF notes that on 6 August 2012, the Komotini Turkish Youth Union was attacked by the supporters of the Golden Dawn. On 12 August 2012, members of the Xanthi provincial branch of the Golden Dawn, who carried Greek flags in their hands, drove by the Turkish villages in Xanthi by motorbikes and cars and nurtured a climate of fear among the minority living in the Turkish villages of Yenice, Beyköy and Okçular. Lastly, on 23 August 2012, the headquarters of the political party of Friendship, Equality and Peace (DEP), which was established by the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, was attacked in the late hours of evening and illuminated sign of the party was broken with rocks.

“With this parallel report, ABTTF is aiming to make the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace have a say in issues which directly concern itself, and convey its view to the competent authorities.”said Halit Habipoğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).