Cultural Association of Turkish Women of Rhodope pay study visit to Strasbourg

The President of the Cultural Association of Turkish Women of the Prefecture of Rodopi (RITKKD), Hülya Emin, and the legal advisor of the association, lawyer İlker Çavuşoğlu, visited Strasbourg, France, between 28 May and 1 June to follow up on the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgements regarding RITKKD and other Turkish minority associations in the "Bekirusta Group of Cases" which are not implemented by Greece.

The study visit took place ahead of the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which will be held on 11-13 June and is expected to discuss the non-implemented ECtHR judgments.

RİTKKD President Hülya Emin and lawyer İlker Çavuşoğlu met with the Executive Chamber of the ECtHR, the Presidency of the International Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations of the Council of Europe and the permanent representatives of the member states of the Council of Europe regarding the ECtHR judgments that have not been implemented for 16 years.

During the contacts made in Strasbourg, the victimisation experienced due to the non-implementation by Greece of the ECtHR judgments concerning the Cultural Association of Turkish Women of Rhodope, Xanthi Turkish Union and Evros Minority Youth Association for 16 years was once again explained.

The RITKKD delegation reiterated its demand for the full and complete implementation by Greece of the ECtHR judgements concerning the cases of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, the so-called "Bekirusta Group of Cases".

During her visit to Strasbourg, RİTKKD President Hülya Emin and Legal Advisor İlker Çavuşoğlu also met with Ambassador Nurdan Bayraktar Golder, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the Council of Europe, and her working team.