ABTTF submits two statements to the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council

The statements addressed the "Request for the Closure of the DEB Party in Greece and the Right to Vote and Be Elected of the Western Thrace Turkish Community" and "Targeting of Political Representatives of the Western Thrace Turkish Community."

In their statements, ABTTF highlighted the denial of Turkish identity to the Western Thrace Turkish community, which has been recognized as a minority with educational and religious autonomy under the 1923 Lausanne Treaty. They noted that members of this community, all Greek citizens, have been subjected to significant hate speech in mainstream Greek media. ABTTF reported that false and defamatory news has been spread about human rights defenders from the Turkish community, and Turkish MPs have been scapegoated simply for participating in events of Turkish organizations in Western Thrace or for advocating for the rights of the Turkish community in parliament.

Regarding the closure of the DEB Party, ABTTF recalled that the Friendship Equality Peace (DEB) Party emerged as the leading party in the regions of Rodopi and Xanthi during the European Parliament elections on June 9, 2024, just as it did in previous elections in 2014 and 2019. Following its electoral success, allegations surfaced that the party posed a fictitious threat to Greece’s national security and territorial integrity, as it was allegedly supported by Turkey. ABTTF asserted that this has led to a smear campaign aimed at dissolving the party.

They emphasized that requests made to the Supreme Court and Council of State to suspend the party’s activities represent a highly negative development for democracy and the rule of law in Greece, especially since the DEB Party participated in elections with the approval of the Supreme Court. The targeting and discrediting of the DEB Party constitute a direct attack on the freedom of thought and the right to vote and be elected for the Turkish community in Western Thrace.

ABTTF called on the relevant authorities in Greece, as well as the media, to utilize all legal measures to prevent hate and racist discourse directed at the Western Thrace Turkish community, urging for punitive actions against provocative hate speech.

For further details, the statements can be accessed via the following links:

https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g24/165/39/pdf/g2416539.pdf

https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g24/165/37/pdf/g2416537.pdf