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Double standards against the Turkish community in Western Thrace regarding freedom of association in our country

01.09.2022

ABTTF President: “While an association titled ‘Armenian’ can legally operate in our region and organise an event in cooperation with the municipality, our associations bearing the word ‘Turkish’ are being closed down. When it comes to the Western Thrace Turks in our country, freedom of association is immediately shelved, and open discrimination is made among citizens.’’

According to local media reports, Armenians from various parts of the world gathered in the city of Komotini for the Armenian Cultural Festival. It was stated that the two-day festival organised on 26-27 August 2022 in cooperation with the Municipality of Komotini and the Culture and Education Association of the Armenians of Komotini was successfully concluded.

“The festival organised by Armenians living in Komotini once again revealed the double standard that our country Greece applies against the Western Thrace Turks regarding freedom of association. While an association titled ‘Armenian’ can legally operate in our region and organise an event in cooperation with the municipality, our associations bearing the word ‘Turkish’ are being closed down. Despite all the warnings of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, our country has been ignoring the international convention to which it is a party by persistently not executing the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights regarding our associations for more than 14 years. When it comes to the Western Thrace Turks in our country, freedom of association is immediately shelved, and open discrimination is made among citizens”, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).

*Image: www.iskeceturkbirligi.orghttp://www.iskeceturkbirligi.org

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