Western Thrace Turkish delegation raises minority rights concerns at OSCE conference
Representatives of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace brought concerns over freedom of association, religious rights, minority education and the implementation of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgments to the 2026 OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw, calling on Greece to fulfil its international obligations.
The conference, held in Warsaw, Poland, from October 5 to 15, brought together representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), its 57 participating states, international organizations and civil society. The Western Thrace Turkish delegation attended sessions from October 7 to 9, led by Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of İskeçe (Xanthi) and president of the Advisory Board of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace.
The delegation included K. Engin Soyyılmaz of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), human rights expert Dr. Pervin Hayrullah of the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association (BTAYTD), Kerem Abdurahimoğlu, vice-president of the European Free Alliance (EFA) and a representative of the Friendship, Equality and Peace Party (DEB), and Emine Hüseyin Palazlı of the İskeçe Religious Officials Association.
FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND ECHR JUDGMENTS
During the session on fundamental freedoms, including freedom of peaceful assembly and association, ABTTF addressed restrictions affecting minority associations whose names include the word “Turkish.”
The federation said associations had been dissolved or prevented from registering because of their use of the term, which it described as part of Greece’s refusal to recognize the ethnic Turkish identity of the minority in Western Thrace.
ABTTF also highlighted Greece’s continued non-implementation of three ECHR judgments in the Bekir Usta and Others group of cases, which concern the registration and operation of minority associations. According to the federation, the judgments have remained unimplemented for more than 18 years.
The delegation also referred to the case brought by the Xanthi Turkish Women's Cultural Association, whose registration was rejected in 2010 because its name included the word “Turkish.” The ECHR ruled unanimously on June 24, 2025, in Sağır and Others v. Greece that Greece had violated Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects freedom of assembly and association.
ABTTF cited a report adopted by the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe in April 2026 and a Greece monitoring report and resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on September 26, 2026. It said both called for the implementation of the relevant ECHR judgments.
The federation urged Greece to implement the rulings fully and effectively and uphold the rule of law.
DEB PARTY HIGHLIGHTS RESTRICTIONS ON MINORITY ORGANIZATION
The DEB Party also raised concerns about restrictions on the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace’s freedom of association. It argued that associations closed because of the word “Turkish” in their names remain without legal recognition despite ECHR judgments, limiting their ability to participate in international dialogue platforms such as the OSCE conference.
In its other interventions, the party addressed religious freedom, education, economic development and employment. It also pointed to the continuing economic challenges facing Western Thrace, arguing that the region remains among Greece’s poorest despite European Union funding allocated to the area.
RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP AND MINORITY RIGHTS
The İskeçe Religious Officials Association raised concerns over the recognition of religious leaders. According to the association, Greece does not recognize the minority’s elected religious leadership and has appointed muftis against the community’s wishes. It argued that recent legislation on mufti offices had institutionalized this practice.
BTAYTD, meanwhile, stressed that fundamental rights are central to the OSCE’s human dimension commitments. It called on Greece to respect the minority’s right to self-identification, freedom of association, and freedom of religion and belief.
The delegation’s interventions placed minority rights and the implementation of international court judgments at the centre of its participation, urging Greece to bring its practices into line with its human rights obligations.
