Racist and discriminatory practices must end
ABTTF requested an end to racist and discriminatory practices directed towards the Turkish community of Western Thrace in its statement.
ABTTF requested an end to racist and discriminatory practices directed towards the Turkish community of Western Thrace in its statement.
In 1966, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 to be the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. "Voices of action against racism" is the theme for this year's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is commemorated with various events around the world on March 21.
Under the aforementioned theme, the UN emphasized the importance of strengthening meaningful and safe social participation at all stages of the decision-making process in order to prevent and combat racial discrimination, and underlined the importance of full respect for civil space, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The UN also noted that the contribution and hardships of individuals and organizations that stand against racial discrimination should be appreciated.
Halit Habip Oglu, Head of the of Western Thrace Turks European Federation (ABTTF), said, “In recent years, racism, xenophobia and anti-Islam have been on the rise all over Europe and the world. For years, the Turkish society of Western Thrace in our country, Greece, has been subjected to racist and discriminatory discourses and practices, and is perceived as a threat and danger. Initiating an investigation 7 months later by the prosecutor's office about the democratic march organized in July 2021 to protest against the non- implementation of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in favor of our oldest association, Xanthi Turkish Union, which has been fighting for the justice for 39 years, is the latest example of our country's policies of intimidation against our society. "We call Greece to fully respect our society's freedom of peaceful assembly and association in line with its obligations arising from the international treaties to which it is a party, and immediately stop following that perceive us as a threat and danger, and start a direct dialogue with us," Habip Oglu added.
