Western Thrace Turkish Delegation raises Minority Rights concerns at OSCE Human Dimension meeting in Vienna
Representatives of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace took part in the first 2026 Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), held in Vienna on March 16–17, bringing renewed international attention to minority rights issues in Greece.
The meeting, themed “Legislation for Democratic Resilience,” gathered policymakers, civil society actors, and human rights experts to discuss the role of democratic lawmaking in safeguarding fundamental rights.
Delegation and Participation
The Western Thrace Turkish delegation included:
- Dr. Pervin Hayrullah, human rights expert representing the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association
- Kerem Abdurahimoğlu, Vice President of the European Free Alliance and representative of the Friendship Equality Peace Party
- Necmettin Kahya, President of the Seçek Minority Education and Culture Association
- International Guarantees and Alleged Violations
- During the session titled “Protecting Democracies: Democratic Lawmaking and the Role of International
Actors,” BTAYTD emphasized the importance of international protection mechanisms in preserving minority language, culture, and identity.
The delegation stressed that the rights of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace are guaranteed under the Treaty of Lausanne, but argued that Greece continues to violate its obligations, particularly in the areas of education, cultural rights, and the administration of minority foundations.
Civil Society and Legislative Concerns
In the session on “Civil Society and Independent Oversight in Defending Democratic Lawmaking,” the Seçek Association highlighted that the status and rights defined by the Treaty of Lausanne cannot be altered through domestic legislation.
The association also rejected attempts to classify Alevi-Bektashis in Western Thrace as a separate community from the Turkish minority. It criticized a law passed by the Greek Parliament in August 2025—adopted without consultation with minority representatives—as failing to meet the expectations of Alevi-Bektashi members of the minority.
BTAYTD further underlined the necessity of including minority representatives in legislative processes, calling on Greece to engage with the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board, which it described as the legitimate representative body of the community.
Freedom of Association and Religious Rights
Speaking in the session on “Judicial Oversight and Accountability in Democratic Lawmaking,” the FEP Party raised concerns over ongoing rights violations affecting the Turkish minority. These include restrictions on freedom of association, the right to education in the mother tongue, and the right to elect religious leaders.
The party described itself as the only political party in Greece centered on human and minority rights for the Turkish community, highlighting its commitment to gender equality in internal governance. It called on Greece to engage in dialogue with the minority and uphold the rule of law and democratic principles.
BTAYTD also criticized deficiencies in Greece’s judicial oversight mechanisms, citing the non-implementation of rulings by the European Court of Human Rights regarding Turkish associations. The organization urged OSCE participating states to press Greece to enact necessary judicial reforms.
Greece Responds
In response, Greek representatives reiterated their official position, describing the community in Western Thrace as a “Muslim minority” and asserting that its members enjoy full equality as Greek citizens, including access to rights and positive discrimination measures.
The meeting concluded with a closing session after two days of discussions.
