Hüseyin Baltacı addresses European Parliament: “The Turkish Minority of Western Thrace is not a threat, it demands equal citizenship”
At a session of the European Parliament, Hüseyin Baltacı, President of the Association of Higher Education Graduates of Western Thrace Minority (WTMUGA) and candidate of the Friendship, Equality and Peace Party (FEP) for the European Parliament, strongly criticized the marginalization of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace.
Baltacı emphasized that portraying the minority as a national security threat is both unfair and misleading, stressing that the solution lies not in exclusion but in dialogue and democratic values.
“Equal Citizenship and the Rule of Law Must Be Central”
He underlined that the issue of minority rights must be addressed within the framework of human rights, equal citizenship, and the rule of law. Pointing to persistent challenges in the field of education, he highlighted the need for genuine equality of opportunity, and called for a resolution of the muftiate issue through legal and social consensus rather than political confrontation.
Key Statements by Baltacı
In his remarks at the European Parliament, Baltacı stated:
“The Turkish Minority of Western Thrace is in no way a national security threat. We are equal citizens of this country, and we want to be seen as such.”
“The way forward is not to exacerbate problems but to solve them through dialogue, inclusiveness, and democratic approaches based on mutual trust.”
“The muftiate issue must be dealt with not through political disputes but within the framework of the rule of law and the requirements of social peace.”
Addressing education, Baltacı stressed:
“Minority children must have the right to education both in their mother tongue and with the facilities provided by the state, on an equal basis. When equal opportunity is not ensured, social peace is undermined.”
Statement from FEP Party
Following the speech, the FEP Party released a statement:
“In his address at the European Parliament, Hüseyin Baltacı strongly emphasized that the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace poses no national threat. He placed human rights, equal citizenship, and the rule of law at the heart of the debate. By pointing out the urgent need to secure equality in education and resolve the muftiate issue on a legal and societal basis, Baltacı highlighted how security-based narratives marginalize the minority. Instead, he underlined that the solution lies in dialogue, participation, and democratic values. His speech was not merely an appeal but a concrete roadmap aligned with the universal standards of the European Union—promoting coexistence over discrimination, fairness over pressure, and trust over fear.”
