ABTTF president says rule of law is being systematically violated in Greece
Halit Habipoğlu, president of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), has said recent Eurobarometer findings point to serious damage to public confidence in the rule of law and the judicial system in Greece.
Habipoğlu argued that the findings once again highlight structural problems concerning the rule of law and the judiciary, while also pointing to the long-standing non-implementation of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgments concerning associations of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority.
Seven in 10 Greeks reportedly see rule of law violations
According to Habipoğlu, the latest Eurobarometer results show that approximately seven in 10 people in Greece believe that the rule of law is being violated.
He argued that the government's handling of legal and corruption scandals in recent years has significantly weakened public confidence in the country's judicial system.
Habipoğlu said the findings should be viewed as an indication of broader structural concerns surrounding the rule of law and judicial independence in Greece.
ECHR judgments concerning Western Thrace Turkish Minority
The ABTTF president also highlighted the Bekir Usta and Others group of cases, concerning associations linked to the Western Thrace Turkish Minority.
The ECHR has issued judgments in the cases, but Habipoğlu said Greece has failed to implement them for more than 18 years.
He further alleged that the judgments have effectively been disregarded by Greece's Supreme Court, known as the Areios Pagos.
According to Habipoğlu, the continued failure to implement the ECHR judgments demonstrates what he described as a systematic violation of the rule of law and raises serious concerns about judicial independence.
