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Working visit by ABTTF to Strasbourg

30.08.2021

Within the scope of the working visit, the non-execution of ECtHR judgments regarding Western Thrace Turkish associations by Greece was brought to the agenda, and current developments regarding the Turkish community in Western Thrace were conveyed.

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) paid a working visit to Strasbourg, where the Council of Europe is located on 27-28 August 2021. ABTTF delegation comprised of ABTTF President Halit Habip Oğlu, ABTTF Vice-President Nabi Ibrahimcik and ABTTF Head Office Manager K. Engin Soyyılmaz met with the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and Turkish NGOs based in Strasbourg during the two-day working visit. 

ABTTF: The decision of the Greek Court of Cassation to reject the appeal of the Xanthi Turkish Union is a political decision, not a legal one

ABTTF delegation met with Head of the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the ECtHR Clare Ovey and Head of Division Nikolaos Sitaropoulos and Head of Section Bojana Nikolin. 

During the meeting held before the Meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 14-16 September 2021, ABTTF delegation discussed the problems in executing the ECtHR judgments against Greece regarding the Xanthi Turkish Union, the Cultural Association of Turkish Women of the Rodopi Province and Evros Prefecture Minority Youth Association, the associations of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, which are part of the Bekir Ousta and Others Group of Cases along with the latest developments in the proceedings before the national courts.

ABTTF President Habip Oğlu stated that on 29 June 2021, the Greek Court of Cassation (Arios Pagos) rejected the request of the Xanthi Turkish Union, which has been engaged in legal battles for the past 38 years, as regards the execution of the ECtHR judgment and restoration its official legal and that the Court of Cassation through its reasoned decision ignored the related ECtHR judgments with respect to the Bekir Ousta and Others Group of Cases, ECtHR case law and the related resolutions of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Noting that in light of the latest decision of the Court of Cassation, the results of the hearings on 1 October 2021, when the appeals of the Cultural Association of Turkish Women of the Rodopi Province and Evros Prefecture Minority Youth Association will be discussed, are expected to be negative, Habip Oğlu said that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe should continue to closely monitor the group of cases in order for the injustice that has been continuing for the past 13 years to be addressed and for the immediate execution of ECtHR judgments on the Bekir Ousta and Others Group of Cases which are directly related to the negation of the ethnic Turkish identity of the Turkish community in Western Thrace and which have become a national issue in Greece. 

On Saturday 28 August 2021, ABTTF delegation met with the directors of the Union of International Democrats (UID) Alsace-Strasbourg Regional Centre, the Turkish-Islamic Union of Religious Affairs (DITIB) Strasbourg Regional Centre, the COJEP International and Islamic Community Milli Görüş (ITMG) Strasbourg Regional Centre, and informed them about the current problems of the Turkish community in Western Thrace and the violations of its rights that it is subjected to.

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