Turkish Minority associations bearing "Western Thrace" label face new targeting
Konstandinos Hitas, a Member of Parliament from the far-right nationalist Greek Solution Party, referenced the court ruling against the Western Thrace Fenerbahçe Supporters Association and posed a formal question to the Minister of Justice. In his query, Hitas asked what steps are being taken to ban other associations operating in Western Thrace that also include "Western Thrace" in their names.
The formal question recalled that the Rodopi Civil Court had ordered the closure of the Western Thrace Fenerbahçe Supporters Association back in May, arguing that the association distorted the historical and geographical significance of the region by using the "Western Thrace" label. It further alleged that the association implied the existence of an ethnic community in the area and harbored hidden ambitions of autonomy.
MP Hitas pointed out that the Western Thrace Fenerbahçe Supporters Association is not the only organization carrying the "Western Thrace" label, highlighting that several other associations in the region use the same term. He asked the Ministry of Justice what measures would be taken to prohibit these organizations from using this label, as per the court's ruling.
The query also referred to the concert organized by the Western Thrace Minority Higher Education Association in Komotini’s central square in August, during which the "Izmir March" was played. Hitas questioned how this association, which carries the now-banned "Western Thrace" label, was granted permission to host such an event and demanded an explanation from the Ministry of Interior.
Hitas further criticized the fact that not only was the request for the event not denied, but the concert was even financially supported, and a platform was set up by the municipality for the occasion.
