European Court of Human Rights rules in favor of Western Thrace Turks once again
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has once again ruled in favor of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, condemning Greece for violating the rights of the Xanthi Turkish Women’s Cultural Association by rejecting its registration application.
In a unanimous decision, the ECHR found that the Greek authorities’ refusal to register the association constituted a violation of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to freedom of assembly and association.
The Court stated that the Greek authorities’ justification—based on the distinction between the officially recognized Muslim minority and the non-recognized Turkish minority—did not present any genuine threat to public order and failed to meet the criteria of a "pressing social need."
Furthermore, the ECHR noted that Greek judicial authorities should reopen the case if the association submits a new request for registration.
As part of the ruling, the Court ordered Greece to pay €3,000 in non-pecuniary damages to each of the seven applicants, along with a lump sum of approximately €4,600 to cover legal costs.
This decision marks another significant victory for the Turkish minority in Western Thrace in their longstanding legal struggle for recognition and equality before the law.
