ABTTF President Habip Oğlu: “Legal scandals are eroding public trust”
In its 2026 World Report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) assessed developments in the field of human rights worldwide during 2025. The report emphasized that the failure of European Union institutions to prioritize human rights has weakened the rule of law, democracy, and the protection of fundamental rights.
In the section on Greece, key concerns highlighted included the government’s weakening of democratic institutions, interference with media freedom, pressure on civil society, the lack of accountability in cases such as the Tempi train disaster and the Pylos boat tragedy, threats against journalists, SLAPP lawsuits, and the continued impunity of those responsible for the Predator spyware scandal.
The report also noted that Greece has ranked last among EU member states in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index for the fourth consecutive year.
In May 2025, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights warned against the harassment of human rights defenders, stating that criminal proceedings against Panayote Dimitras and Tommy Olsen were still ongoing.
Commenting on the report and recent developments, Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), said:
“The systematic violation of the rule of law is undermining public trust in the government, parliament, and the judiciary. As the Turkish community of Western Thrace, we are directly experiencing these negative consequences. Our country is disregarding international law, and human rights defenders are being openly targeted. The government must take seriously the criticisms voiced by supranational organizations and civil society reports and take the necessary steps without delay.”
