“Judicial investigation after 7 months is unacceptable” says minority NGO
With its statement, the Western Thrace Minority Graduates Association reacted to the initiation of an investigation into the Xanthi Turkish Union march.
In the statement, it was stated that "The investigation launched 7 months later, claiming that there were provocative speeches in the democratic action where we protested the decisions that Greece insisted on not being implemented, is never an acceptable situation."
The Association of Western Thrace Minority Graduates emphasized that they will continue to support the Xanthi Turkish Union in its 39-year-long struggle to seek justice, as it has done so far.
The statement of WTMUGA is as follows:
“After the Greek Court of Cassation's refusal to return the legal status of the Xanthi Turkish Union (ITB) despite the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the calls of the Council of Europe, a march was held by the Xanthi Turkish Union on July 10, 2021. There was never any provocative rhetoric or outrage during the march, which was held in accordance with democratic norms.
We have learned with disappointment that 7 months after this action, within the framework of the investigation initiated by the Xanthi Prosecutor's Office, Xanthi Turkish Union President Ozan Ahmetoğlu was summoned to testify on Wednesday, 9 February.
The investigation launched 7 months later, claiming that there were provocative speeches in the democratic action where we protested the decisions that our country, Greece, insisted on, but which has been justified by the decision of the European Court of Human Rights for 14 years, is never acceptable.
We have stood by the Xanthi Turkish Union in its 39 years of struggle for rights and we will continue to do so.”