ELEN observed first-hand the issues faced by the Turkish community in Western Thrace, particularly in relation to freedom of association and education, as well as the human rights violations they have been subjected to.
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) organised a fact-finding misison to Western Thrace this year with the participation of the European Language Equality Network (ELEN), of which it is a member.
The delegation, which included ABTTF President Halit Habip Oğlu and ABTTF International Relations Director Melek Kırmacı, was also joined by ELEN President Elin Jones and ELEN Secretary General Davyth Hicks.
Within the framework of the programme organised and prepared by ABTTF, the ELEN delegation first visited President of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board (BTTADK) and Elected Mufti of Xanthi Mustafa Trampa, at his office on 2 May 2025 and was briefed on the violations of the religious autonomy guaranteed to the Turkish community of Western Thrace under international agreements and the issues they face in the field of religion.
Immediately afterwards, the delegation visited the Xanthi Turkish Union (İTB), the oldest civil society organisation of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, which was dissolved because of the word ‘‘Turkish’’ in its name. During the visit, the delegation was informed about the ITB’s legal struggle, which has been ongoing for over 40 years, and Greece’s failure to execute the relevant judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) regarding the ITB for the past 17 years, despite all the warnings of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
The delegation met with Elected Mufti of Komotini, Ibrahim Şerif, at his office, where they were briefed on the mufti office’s activities. It was indicated that the law titled ‘‘Modernisation of Mufti Offices in Thrace’’ envisages the state’s full control and supervision over mufti offices with autonomous structures, and that efforts are being made to dissolve mufti offices by transforming them into regular state offices.
As in the ITB, the delegation visited the Western Thrace Turkish Teachers’ Union (BTTÖB) and the Komotini Turkish Youth Union (GTGB), which were dissolved as a result of Greece’s policy of denying the ethnic Turkish identity and the existence of Turks in the country, due to the word “Turkish” in their names. The delegation was informed about their respective history, struggle, and activities.
Furthermore, the delegation also paid a visit to the headquarters of the Friendship, Equality, and Peace (FEP) Party, the only political party of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, in Komotini, where it was reported that politicians belonging to the Turkish community in Western Thrace were being directly targeted by both Greek politicians and the Greek media. The delegation was also briefed regarding the 3% election threshold introduced in Greece’s election law on 24 October 1990 and applied nationwide to independent candidates prevents the Turkish community from being represented by independent members of parliament in the Greek Parliament.
