ECtHR casesdiscussed in “Facts About Our Country”
Western Thrace
Sun, 20 Mar 2022 13:00 GMT
The sixth episode of the European Western Thrace Turkish Federation's (ABTTF) online program series titled "Facts About Our Country" was broadcast on 17 March 2022.The guest of the sixth program is the "Bekir Usta and Others Lawsuit Group" Legal Counselor...
The sixth episode of the European Western Thrace Turkish Federation's (ABTTF) online program series titled "Facts About Our Country" was broadcast on 17 March 2022.
The guest of the sixth program is the "Bekir Usta and Others Lawsuit Group" Legal Counselor Atty. Ilker Cavusoglu.
Çavuşoğlu answered the questions of the program's moderator, ABTTF International Relations Director Melek Kırmacı, about the "Bekir Usta and Others Case Group", which the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) convicted Greece for violating the freedom of association in 2008.
Providing brief information about the "Bekir Usta and Others Lawsuit Group", Çavuşoğlu noted that since it is the oldest association founded by members of the Western Thrace Turkish community, it was the flagship of the Xanthi Turkish Union case in this group, but was closed by the national authorities in 1983. Çavuşoğlu said that the other two associations in the case group were not registered by the national authorities.
Pointing out that the Greek Court of Cassation's decision of June 29, 2021 contains two fundamental messages that are problematic, Çavuşoğlu noted that the first is to oppose the ECtHR case law on human rights, and the other is the reluctance of the national legal system to implement the ECtHR judgments regarding the "Bekir Usta and Others Case Group".
In response to the question of what ways the Xanthi Turkish Union, which was founded in 1927, can follow after the appeal application for the return of its official legal personality, following the ECHR decision, was rejected by the Supreme Court, Çavuşoğlu resolutely determined that the steps taken by the Xanthi Turkish Union only and only to ensure the return of its legal status. and to resort to democratic means, and this includes the full and effective implementation of the relevant ECtHR decision.
Underlining that the legal demands of the Western Thrace Turkish associations in the "Bekir Usta and Others Lawsuit Group" have not changed and that they are to be recognized and operate officially, Çavuşoğlu said that the marginalization of these three associations has gained an international dimension.
Çavuşoğlu stated that the negative final decision of the Court of Cassation regarding the Xanthi Turkish Union would most likely set a precedent for the cases of the Rhodope Province Turkish Women Cultural Association and the Meriç Province Minority Youth Association, but that a positive decision in the cases regarding these two associations would be a holistic decision in the "Bekir Usta and Others Case Group". He noted that it could help initiate a dialogue towards a decision.
Noting that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe may initiate a violation process against a state party to the convention that does not implement the final decision of the ECtHR pursuant to Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Çavuşoğlu said that 14 years is sufficient time to implement the binding decision of an international body. He said that it would be good to see the sincere approach of the Western Thrace Turkish society towards their associations in order to untie the existing knots.
You can watch the entire English program, which is broadcast live simultaneously on ABTTF's YouTube channel and Facebook page, by clicking the links below:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka5R6LtuCz4&t=58s
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/939989616164959/videos/362721882387574
The guest of the sixth program is the "Bekir Usta and Others Lawsuit Group" Legal Counselor Atty. Ilker Cavusoglu.
Çavuşoğlu answered the questions of the program's moderator, ABTTF International Relations Director Melek Kırmacı, about the "Bekir Usta and Others Case Group", which the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) convicted Greece for violating the freedom of association in 2008.
Providing brief information about the "Bekir Usta and Others Lawsuit Group", Çavuşoğlu noted that since it is the oldest association founded by members of the Western Thrace Turkish community, it was the flagship of the Xanthi Turkish Union case in this group, but was closed by the national authorities in 1983. Çavuşoğlu said that the other two associations in the case group were not registered by the national authorities.
Pointing out that the Greek Court of Cassation's decision of June 29, 2021 contains two fundamental messages that are problematic, Çavuşoğlu noted that the first is to oppose the ECtHR case law on human rights, and the other is the reluctance of the national legal system to implement the ECtHR judgments regarding the "Bekir Usta and Others Case Group".
In response to the question of what ways the Xanthi Turkish Union, which was founded in 1927, can follow after the appeal application for the return of its official legal personality, following the ECHR decision, was rejected by the Supreme Court, Çavuşoğlu resolutely determined that the steps taken by the Xanthi Turkish Union only and only to ensure the return of its legal status. and to resort to democratic means, and this includes the full and effective implementation of the relevant ECtHR decision.
Underlining that the legal demands of the Western Thrace Turkish associations in the "Bekir Usta and Others Lawsuit Group" have not changed and that they are to be recognized and operate officially, Çavuşoğlu said that the marginalization of these three associations has gained an international dimension.
Çavuşoğlu stated that the negative final decision of the Court of Cassation regarding the Xanthi Turkish Union would most likely set a precedent for the cases of the Rhodope Province Turkish Women Cultural Association and the Meriç Province Minority Youth Association, but that a positive decision in the cases regarding these two associations would be a holistic decision in the "Bekir Usta and Others Case Group". He noted that it could help initiate a dialogue towards a decision.
Noting that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe may initiate a violation process against a state party to the convention that does not implement the final decision of the ECtHR pursuant to Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Çavuşoğlu said that 14 years is sufficient time to implement the binding decision of an international body. He said that it would be good to see the sincere approach of the Western Thrace Turkish society towards their associations in order to untie the existing knots.
You can watch the entire English program, which is broadcast live simultaneously on ABTTF's YouTube channel and Facebook page, by clicking the links below:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka5R6LtuCz4&t=58s
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/939989616164959/videos/362721882387574
