Mind-blowing investigation for Xanthi Turkish Union
Seven months after the march, the Xanthi Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the march held by the Xanthi Turkish Union last July.
In the statement made by Xanthi Turkish Union (ITB) President Ozan Ahmetoğlu, said that in the investigation launched 7 months later, it is stated that provocative speeches were made against the Greek state and the decisions of the Court of Cassation, false news was spread and measures to prevent the pandemic were violated.
It was stated that the investigation regarding the march carried out by the ITB on July 10, 2021 was initiated based on the news in two local Greek newspapers published in Xanthi. It was noteworthy that the investigation started 7 months after the ITB action.
ITB President Ozan Ahmetoğlu, within the framework of the investigation initiated by the Xanthi prosecutor's office, about the march held 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, today (February 9, Wednesday) he was summoned to testify at the Xanthi Police Station.
Ahmetoğlu, who went to the police station with ITB lawyer Ahmet Kara, will give his statement in writing in the coming days.
Meanwhile, within the framework of the investigation launched by the prosecutor's office, the names of more than 12 people, including Mufti of Komotini Ibrahim Şerif, Mufti of Xanthi Ahmet Mete, Mayor of Ariana (Kozlukebir) Rıdvan Ahmet and Mayor of İasmos (Yassıköy) Önder Mümin, were included in the indictment prepared within the scope of the investigation, alleging that they did not wear masks during the action.
Ahmetoğlu: “We will continue our legal fight for human rights”
ITB President Ozan Ahmetoğlu on his personal social media account published the following statement: “About 7 months after this democratic protest action, which was actually supported by almost all of Western Thrace Turkish Minority's non-governmental organizations and politicians, the launch of an investigation into the march carried out by the Xanthi Turkish Union is a sign of democracy. I leave it to the discretion of those who believe in human rights and international law.
I was summoned to testify at the Xanthi police station regarding the march we organized as Xanthi Turkish Union last July.
As the Xanthi Turkish Union President, I went to the Xanthi police station to testify within the scope of the investigation launched by the Xanthi Prosecutor's Office. The investigation is about the march we organized on July 10, 2021 to protest the NON- IMPLEMENTATION OF ECHR decisions by Greece.
We went to the Xanthi police station in the morning with Ahmet Kara, the lawyer of Xanthi Turkish Union. We requested time to give our statement in writing.
The EcHR, which we applied to after the Greek courts' decision to close down our association and the cancellation of its legal status, found the Xanthi Turkish Association justified because the phrase "Turkish" was mentioned in its name.
Although the Council of Europe has been calling on Greece for the implementation of these decisions for 14 years, our country, Greece, of which we are citizens, continues not to implement the ECHR decisions.
Finally, in June 2021, the Greek Court of Cassation rejected our application for the Xanthi Turkish Union to return the legal status to our association by referring the ECHR decision.
Thereupon, as Xanthi Turkish Union, we held a march on Saturday, July 10, 2021, in Xanthi. We used our democratic right to protest, with the slogan "NOW ENOUGH TO INJUSTICE".
Now we are faced with allegations that during the march, provocative speeches against the Greek state and the decisions of the Court of Cassation as well as false news were spread and measures to prevent the pandemic were violated!
Moreover, all this comes 7 months after our democratic action!
Almost 7 months have passed since this democratic protest action, which was actually supported by almost all of the non-governmental organizations and politicians of Western Thrace Turkish Minority.
I leave the initiation of an investigation into the march of the Xanthi Turkish Union to the discretion of those who believe in democracy, human rights and international law!
As Xanthi Turkish Union, we will continue our fight for rights, which we have been continuing for 39 years, with the same determination, always in line with law, as we have done so far.”
