Here is justice in our country: Western Thrace Fenerbahce Association is being closed down!
ABTTF President: "In the Bekir Usta case group, we said that similar cases would come before the ECtHR as long as the ECtHR judgements were not implemented, unfortunately we were right. The closure of this association, which has not gone beyond the statute until today, under conditions where the ECtHR judgements regarding the Bekir Usta and Others case group have not been implemented by Greece for 16 years, is a step taken to punish not only our association but also our community."
The Civil Court of First Instance of Rodopi ruled on 28 May 2024 to dissolve the fan association founded in Komotini in 2022 under the name "Western Thrace Fenerbahce Culture and Sports Association".
On 6 September 2023, after a hearing, the Single Judge Civil Court of First Instance of the Province of Rodopi ruled on 28 May to cancel the registration of the "Western Thrace Fenerbahce Association".
A lawsuit was filed for the cancellation of the registration of the fan association established in Komotini with the name "Western Thrace Fenerbahce Culture and Sports Association", claiming that the name of the association was against the law, and the objection was withdrawn at the hearing on 14 June 2023. On 16 June 2023, the second lawsuit was filed by the Prosecutor's Office of Rhodope, and in the indictment, it was claimed that the expression 'Western Thrace' in the name of the association was against the law and public order. The hearing of the lawsuit filed for the closure of the association, which was brought before the judiciary for the third time in nine months, was held on 6 September 2023, and the Sports and Culture Association of Pontians of Kafkasköy (Thrilorio) in the region also intervened in the lawsuit against the Fenerbahçeliler Association.
Commenting on the issue, Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) said: "We are very disappointed with the decision to close down the Western Thrace Fenerbahce Association and condemn this decision which is a clear violation of the freedom of association. In the Bekir Usta case group, we said that similar cases would come before the ECtHR as long as the ECtHR judgements were not implemented, unfortunately we were right. The closure of this association, which has never violated its statute, under conditions where the ECtHR judgements in the Bekir Usta and Others case group have not been implemented by Greece for 16 years, is a step taken to punish not only our association but also our society. This is a step further in the usurpation of our rights and freedoms by the state. We will not remain silent in the face of this lawlessness."
