Response by ABTTF to 2017 Greece Human Rights Report

ABTTF, in its parallel report, conveyed current developments about Western Turkish community

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) prepared a report in reply to the issues concerning the Turkish community of Western Thrace in the 2017 Human Rights Report on Greece published by the U.S. Department of State. In its parallel report ABTTF provided detailed information about pertinent matters about Western Thrace Turkish community and further conveyed current developments which are not covered in the report.

In the report it was noted that citizens who identify themselves as Turks who demands recognition as an ethnic minority were rejected, and associations with the word “Turkish” in their names were not registered. In addition to the report ABTTF reminded that associations with the word “Turkish” in their names were registered and operated legally until 1986, when they were dissolved by Greek authorities. ABTTF raised judgments of the European Court of Human Rights concerning Turkish associations and further noted the restrictions brought with the law adopted in October 2017. Moreover, ABTTF noted that Xanthi Turkish Union re-opened its case at the domestic courts for return of its official identity

Regarding arbitrary detentions, ABTTF conveyed the legal proceedings against representatives of Western Thrace Turkish community and raised particularly proceedings about İbrahim Şerif, Elected Mufti of Komotini and Ahmet Mete, Elected Mufti of Xanthi who were called many times to bear testimony grounded on variety reasons. ABTTF also reported the cases filed against Şerif and Mete on the grounds of “usurping the office of the Mufti”.

ABTTF responded to the criticisms in the report in which the statements in 2016 report were repeated about application of traditional Islamic law in Western Thrace and reminded that Western Thrace Turkish community’s right to determine their own religious leaders had been guaranteed through international treaties. ABTTF informed that the appointment of Muftis on grounds that they have judicial powers is against the laws which determined the status and rights of the Turkish community. ABTTF further noted that the law adopted by the government in January 2018 aims to abolish traditions and customs dependent religious autonomy of Western Thrace Turkish community.

In the field of education, it is noted in the report that there are only two secondary schools providing bilingual education in Greek and Turkish languages for the children of Western Thrace Turkish community. In addition to the U.S. report, ABTTF brought on the agenda the issue of lack of bilingual kindergartens. ABTTF indicated that despite the demand of the Western Thrace Turkish community, the Greek government does not allow for opening of bilingual minority kindergartens in the region, and the government is rather implementing the pilot project which would establish kindergarten education with translators in six public primary schools.

ABTTF also noted that the number of Turkish primary schools has decreased in the region and criticized the government for orienting the Turkish children towards state school system instead of supporting the Turkish school system.

ABTTF conveyed the hate-motivated attacks against members and institutions of the Turkish community, since this issue is not covered in the U.S. report. ABTTF reported statement by Theodoros Pangalos, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece in which he had mentioned “The best Turk is the dead Turk” and criticized the hatred language in politics against Western Thrace Turks.