Greece responds to ABTTF’s written submissions to the UN Human Rights Council
The Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva has provided a written response to the European Western Thrace Turkish Federation (ABTTF) regarding its submissions to the UN Human Rights Council’s 57th regular session. The submissions, presented between September 9 and October 11, 2024, focused on the closure request of the Friendship Equality Peace (FEP) Party and the targeting of political representatives from the Turkish community in Western Thrace.
In its response, Greece emphasized that, according to the 1923 Lausanne Treaty, the Muslim minority in Western Thrace is recognized as a religious minority. Greece asserts that members of this minority, as Greek citizens, fully enjoy all freedoms and rights guaranteed by the Greek Constitution, as well as the benefits afforded to European Union citizens, without discrimination.
Greece further claimed that it adheres to the educational and religious autonomy provisions outlined in the Lausanne Treaty and that the Muslim minority is represented at all levels of government, including national, regional, and local politics.
Regarding the FEP Party, Greece pointed out that it is a political party established by members of the Muslim minority and has participated in the European Parliament elections in 2014, 2019, and 2024. It also asserted that the party is free to participate in national parliamentary elections. The Greek government noted that legal requests to declare the FEP Party illegal are still pending in court and emphasized that declaring a political party illegal in Greece is a last resort, typically pursued only when the party's structure or activities conflict with the country's democratic governance.
In addition, Greece reiterated its respect for fundamental freedoms, including the right to seek and impart information or ideas without interference, as guaranteed by the relevant laws. The country also claimed that protections against incitement to hate or violence based on religious beliefs are in place under Greek law (Law 4491/2017).
The ABTTF’s submissions brought attention to the ongoing systematic discrimination, stigmatization, and marginalization of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, highlighting issues of political representation and the closure of the FEP Party.
