Greece added to European Parliament’s Human Rights Violations list
Greece has been included in the annual report of the European Parliament (EP) Foreign Affairs Committee, which evaluates the state of human rights and democracy in non-EU countries as of 2024.
Greek SYRIZA MEP Kostas Arvanitis expressed deep concern over this development, stating that Greece’s placement alongside third-world countries in the EP’s list of human rights violations was due to the unsolved murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz on April 9, 2021. He criticized the Greek government for its failure to uphold human rights, calling it a serious indictment of its policies.
The report, titled “Human Rights and Democracy in the World and the European Union’s Policy on the Matter – 2024 Annual Report”, is scheduled for a vote in the EP General Assembly on March 11, 2025, in Strasbourg.
ABTTF’s Reaction
Halit Habipoğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), stated:
“The inclusion of our country in the EP’s annual report, which focuses on human rights, the rule of law, and democracy violations in non-EU countries, is a severe warning to the Greek government.”
He emphasized that Greece’s international reputation has been declining due to government policies. The EP’s latest report, he noted, is a serious embarrassment for Greek democracy.
Referring to the two-year anniversary of the Tempi train disaster, in which 57 people lost their lives, Habipoğlu pointed out that thousands of citizens took to the streets to protest the government’s failure to reveal the truth. He criticized the authorities for their lack of transparency, saying:
“Just as in the Karaivaz case, the government has taken no real steps to uncover the truth behind the Tempi disaster. Instead, it has chosen to ignore public outcry and return to business as usual. This is their typical response—neglecting societal issues and covering up realities.”
Legal Concerns in Western Thrace
Habipoğlu also reminded that, despite repeated warnings from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Greece has failed to implement three European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings regarding Turkish associations in Western Thrace for the past 17 years. He accused Greece of disrespecting the rule of law and international legal obligations, adding:
“This latest EP report has once again brought to light the severe issues concerning democracy, justice, and the rule of law in Greece.”
