Western Thrace Turkish Federation raises Minority Rights concerns in Strasbourg Talks
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) held a series of high-level meetings in Strasbourg during the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, raising concerns over minority rights, judicial compliance, and institutional practices in Greece.
The delegation, led by ABTTF President Halit Habipoglu and accompanied by International Relations Director Melek Kırmacı, conducted meetings on April 21–22 with senior European officials and institutional representatives.
High-Level Meetings with European Officials
The ABTTF delegation met with key figures including:
- Petra Bayr, President of PACE
- Miapetra Kumpula-Natri
- Frank Schwabe
- Yildirim Tugrul Turkes
Discussions also involved representatives from the Committee of Ministers Secretariat and the department responsible for the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.
ECHR Rulings and Legal Compliance
A central issue raised during the meetings was the long-standing non-implementation of ECHR judgments concerning minority associations in Greece.
Habipoğlu pointed to the “Bekir Usta and Others” group of cases, emphasizing that relevant rulings have remained unenforced for 18 years. He also referenced the “Sagır and Others” case, in which Greece was again condemned over the refusal to register associations containing the word “Turkish” in their names.
Education and School Closures
The ABTTF delegation also highlighted developments in minority education, arguing that school closures contradict protections guaranteed under the Treaty of Lausanne.
According to ABTTF data, the number of Turkish primary schools in Western Thrace has declined from 188 in 2011 to 83 in the 2025–2026 academic year, largely due to policies citing low student numbers.
Religious Autonomy Disputes
Another key concern raised was the issue of religious autonomy. Habipoğlu stated that while Greece does not interfere in the functioning of recognized religious communities, it does not acknowledge muftis elected by the Turkish minority.
He noted that a mufti was unilaterally appointed in Didymoteicho in early 2026 despite objections from the community, adding that similar processes are underway in Xanthi and Komotini.
These practices, he argued, undermine religious freedom and violate the autonomy guaranteed to the minority under international agreements.
Ongoing Advocacy at European Level
The Strasbourg visit forms part of ABTTF’s broader advocacy efforts to bring the concerns of the Western Thrace Turkish community to European institutions, particularly regarding human rights compliance and minority protections.
