"Rule of Law in Greece has weakened"
The Civil Liberties Union for Europe, a civil society network, has examined the state of the rule of law across the European Union (EU) in its sixth annual report titled "Freedoms and Rule of Law 2025." The report highlights the deterioration of justice, press freedom, and human rights in Greece.
Key Findings on Greece
The section on Greece points out that the judicial system faces long-term challenges in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and quality. It emphasizes that delays in significant cases and controversial rulings have led to a decline in public trust in the judiciary. Furthermore, failures in enforcing anti-corruption laws and the lack of real convictions in criminal cases suggest that laws are often perceived as political tools rather than instruments of justice.
Additionally, the report criticizes:
- Restrictive regulations imposed on civil society organizations,
- Strategic lawsuits (SLAPPs) targeting activists,
- Police violence against peaceful protests,
- Legal harassment of human rights defenders.
- It also highlights the erosion of media pluralism and independence, citing political interference and financial limitations as key obstacles.
Statement from ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu
Halit Habipoğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), commented on the findings:
"This latest report, which draws attention to the deterioration of the rule of law in Greece, clearly exposes the structural problems in our judiciary and the political influence over it. One of the most evident examples of this is the Greek Supreme Court’s persistent refusal to implement the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings regarding three of our community’s associations in the ‘Bekir Usta and Others’ case group.
Despite the ECHR's decisions, the Supreme Court continues to reject the reinstatement of the legal status of the Xanthi Turkish Union and the official registration of the Cultural Association of Turkish Women of Rhodope and the Evros Minority Youth Association. By failing to implement these rulings for 17 years, our country disregards both the rule of law and international legal standards. How much longer will Greece deny the violations of fundamental rights that all of Europe has recognized? Will it continue to turn its back on reality by hiding behind excuses?"
The report underscores the urgent need for Greece to address systemic issues in its judiciary and uphold fundamental freedoms, aligning with EU legal principles.
