Human Rights Watch Rule of Law report raised in Greek Parliament
Developments concerning press freedom and the rule of law in Greece have been brought before Parliament following a formal question submitted by opposition lawmakers, citing findings from the 2026 Greece report by Human Rights Watch.
The parliamentary inquiry was led by PASOK–Movement for Change Justice Spokesperson Evaggelia Liakouli and addressed to Justice Minister Yorgos Floridis and Deputy Prime Minister Pavlos Marinakis.
Opposition Cites “Concerning Decline”
In their written submission, MPs referred to the latest Human Rights Watch report, which reportedly highlights a “concerning decline” in the rule of law in Greece.
According to the text of the inquiry, the report points to institutional weakening, deficiencies in accountability mechanisms that may erode public trust, and worsening working conditions for journalists.
The opposition is seeking clarification from the government on how it intends to respond to the observations made by Human Rights Watch regarding media freedom and adherence to rule-of-law principles.
ABTTF Reaction
In a statement on the issue, Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), noted that it is significant that this year’s Human Rights Watch report includes a dedicated section on the rule of law.
Habip Oğlu stated that ABTTF closely follows the organization’s annual reports on Greece and submits its own documentation to highlight issues not fully reflected in international assessments — particularly minority rights concerns affecting the Turkish community of Western Thrace.
He said that in its latest submission to Human Rights Watch, ABTTF addressed broader issues related to media freedom and rule of law, while also drawing attention to negative media coverage targeting civil society organizations belonging to the Western Thrace Turkish community.
Habip Oğlu further noted that cases related to freedom of association — including the Bekir Usta and Others Case Group and the Xanthi Turkish Women’s Cultural Association case currently under consideration within the framework of European Court of Human Rights rulings — were also communicated to Human Rights Watch.
“Our report, as always, aims to defend the rights and interests of the Western Thrace Turkish community before international organizations and global civil society actors,” Habip Oğlu stated.
Parliamentary Debate Expected
The Human Rights Watch findings and the opposition’s parliamentary question are expected to fuel further debate in the Greek Parliament in the coming weeks, particularly on issues of press freedom, institutional accountability, and compliance with European human rights standards.
