Participating in the Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw, ABTTF conveyed the issues in the fields of freedom of religion and freedom of association.
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) and the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association (WTMUGA) attended the Human Dimension Conference of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), organised by the 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia in Warsaw on 2-13 October 2023.
At the conference where ABTTF International Relations Director Melek Kırmacı and WTMUGA member Kerem Abdurahimoğlu represented the Turkish community in Western Thrace, the issues that constitute examples of systematic discrimination, especially the current problems of the Turkish community in Western Thrace in the fields of education, religion and freedom of association were conveyed.
At the conference attended by OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions, international organisations, and civil society representatives, ABTTF indicated that with the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, the Turkish community in Western Thrace was granted autonomy in the fields of education and religion, but that this autonomy was dismantled by the state. ABTTF noted that the Turkish community in Western Thrace had the right to determine their own religious leaders and that this was implemented until 1985, but that this right was taken away from them with a law passed in 1991. Furthermore, ABTTF explained that the state intervenes in the religious affairs of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, while not interfering in the religious affairs of the dominant religion, the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Jewish community in Greece, one of the recognised religions, and added that this situation is a violation of international treaties and a clear discrimination against the Turkish community in Western Thrace when compared to other religions. ABTTF criticised the transformation of mufti offices into ordinary state offices under the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs within the framework of the Law on the Modernisation of the Mufti Offices. ABTTF asked Greece to restore the religious autonomy of the Turkish community in Western Thrace.
Regarding freedom of association, ABTTF indicated that associations containing the word ‘‘Turkish’’ in their names are closed and that new ones are not allowed to be established. ABTTF noted that the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights regarding the three cases known as the Bekir-Ousta and Others group of cases have not been executed by Greece for the past 15 years.
Finally, ABTTF explained that although the ‘‘Western Thrace Fenerbahçe Supporters Culture and Sports Association’’, established by sports club fans in Western Thrace, was officially established and registered, two lawsuits were filed by the prosecutor’s office requesting the revocation of its registration. Stating that the association went to court three times in nine months, ABTTF added that the registration of the association was requested to be revoked at the last hearing on 6 September. ABTTF indicated that the debate over a simple fans’ association reveals the attitude towards the Turkish community in Western Thrace. As regards the Bekir-Ousta group of cases, ABTTF demanded that Greece urgently executes the judgments of the ECtHR.
