"We have been waiting for 14 years" says ITB President
It has been 14 years since the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which was a turning point in the fight for law and democracy by the Xanthi Turkish Union (ITB).
In the statement made by the Xanthi Turkish Union on the subject, it was said that, "For 14 years, we have been waiting for Greece to implement the ECHR decision and return the legal status of the Xanthi Turkish Union."
The statement is as follows:
“Today is the 14th anniversary of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the Xanthi Turkish Union case, which marks a turning point in the Xanthi Turkish Union's struggle for law and democracy.
İn other words 14 years have passed since the decision of the European Court of Human Rights, announced on March 27, 2008 by the Turkish Union of Xanthi.
It has been 14 years since the decision of the ECtHR, which condemned the closure of our association in Greek courts due to the phrase 'Turkish' in its name, and the annulment of our association's legal status.
As Xanthi Turkish Union and Western Thrace Turkish Minority, we have been waiting for the implementation of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights for 14 years.
As Greek citizens and members of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, we expect the Greek state, to implement its duties according to international law.
14 years ago today, on March 27, 2008, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) announced its decision on the cases of the Turkish Women's Cultural Association in Rhodope and the Minority Youth Association in Evros (Meriç), together with the Xanthi Turkish Union, and found all three minority associations unanimously right.
The sign of the Xanthi Turkish Union, the first non-governmental organization of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, was taken down by the security forces in 1983.
Subsequently, a lawsuit was filed by Fanis Donas, the governor of Xanthi at the time, demanding the closure of our association.
The struggle, which started as a result of the lawsuit, entered a new phase with the announcement of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on March 27, 2008.
However, the ECHR decision has not been implemented by Greece since 2008, and the legal status of the Xanthi Turkish Union has not been restored.
Therefore, discrimination and unlawfulness against the Muslim Turkish Minority people of Western Thrace continues.
The last application of the Xanthi Turkish Association to the court regarding the implementation of the ECtHR decision and the restoration of the legal status of our association was concluded in June 2021.
With its decision announced in June, the Greek Court of Cassation once again rejected the request of the Xanthi Turkish Union.
Xanthi Turkish Union organized a march on 10 July 2021 on this development.
We protested the decision of the Court of Cassation, which stipulated that the ECHR decision was not implemented and the legal status of our association was not returned. This reaction was due to the injustice and discrimination that has been going on since 1983.
We showed our reaction against injustice, discrimination and injustice with the democratic protest action we organized with the slogan "NOW IS ENOUGH TO INJUSTICE AND ILLEGALITY". We voiced our demand for democracy, equality and respect for international law decisions.
As Xanthi Turkish Union, a prosecutor's investigation was initiated regarding the march that took place 7 months after the march we held using our democratic and constitutional right to protest.
Within the framework of this investigation, Xanthi Turkish Union President Ozan Ahmetoğlu was summoned to testify about the speeches he made during the protest.
In addition, 12 of our cognates, including our elected muftis, minority mayors, and prominent figures of the society, were called to testify during the march with the allegation that they ‘did not comply with the pandemic rules’.
We find meaningful the prosecution investigation launched against a democratic demonstration demanding the implementation of ECtHR decisions. We would like to emphasize once again that this is seen as an effort of "intimidation" and "targeting" by the Western Thrace Turkish Minority.
As the ECtHR decisions are not implemented, it is sad and worrying in terms of democracy and human rights that our association and community representatives who demand the implementation of these decisions are exposed to new prosecutions.
As the Xanthi Turkish Union, the first non-governmental organization of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, we await the implementation of the ECHR decisions in the name of democracy and international law. We present to the attention of the public that we have been waiting for the return of the official and legal status of our association for 14 years, and that we will continue our struggle to seek rights for this purpose with greater determination and determination from now on.”
