FEP Party pays visit to the closed Western Thrace Fenerbahce Association
The president of the Friendship, Equality and Peace (FEP) Party, Çiğdem Asafoğlu and the accompanying delegation visited the Western Thrace Fenerbahçeliler Sports and Culture Association, which was closed down on the grounds that the term "Western Thrace" in its name might imply a Turkish minority.
Asafoğlu and the accompanying delegation conveyed their support to Mümin Hasan, the president of the association, during the visit.
Asafoğlu, who was informed about the process, stated that it would be wrong to expect a mentality that is uncomfortable with the expression "Western Thrace" to take healthy decisions.
Stating that there is not a well-intentioned system against them, Asafoğlu said, "As you know, the word Turkish was a problem until today. Now we have learnt that the use of the term Western Thrace is also a problem."
Stating that as a party they will continue to support the Fenerbahce Sports and Culture Association as they always have, Asafoğlu emphasised that this situation is now a matter of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace.
The delegation included Aydın Ahmet, President of the Western Thrace Turkish Teachers' Union (BTTÖB), Sedat Hasan, President of the Komotini Turkish Youth Union (GTGB) and the candidates of the FEP Party for the European Parliament (EP) elections on 9 June.
Closure of Fenerbahçe Fans Sports-Culture Association of Western Thrace
Western Thrace Fenerbahçe Fans Sports-Culture Association started its activities in October 2022 after all permissions were granted by the relevant court in Komotini.
In June 2023, the first closure case against the association was concluded in favour of the association after the prosecutor withdrew his application.
In the indictment she prepared in March 2023, Komotini Prosecutor Maria Kapetanyanni denied the minority's Turkish identity and claimed that they were a Muslim minority.
Kapetanyanni had requested the closure of the association, claiming that the name of the association was against the law on the grounds that it could "create the implication of a Turkish minority".
Vasiliki Thanu, former President of the Supreme Court of Greece and former Prime Minister of Greece, had also called for the closure of the Western Thrace Fenerbahçe Fans Sports-Cultural Association, claiming that it "posed a threat to public security".
Thanu, who argued that the expression "Western Thrace" in the name of the association was used only by Turkey, called on the Greek courts to review the decision.
On 28 May 2024, the Civil Court of First Instance in Komotini ordered the closure of the association on the grounds that the expression "Western Thrace" in the name of the association could create an implication of the Turkish minority.
