ABTTF on a working visit to Brussels

Federation of Western Thrace Turks (ABTTF) paid a working visit to the European Parliament, Brussels on 19 February 2013. ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu met Mr. François Alfonsi, Member of the European Parliament and Mr. Willy Fautré, the Director of the Human Rights Without Frontiers International (HRWF).

President Habipoğlu meets Corsican MEP François Alfonsi

The meeting, accompanied by the attendance of ABTTF Brussels Representation, provided President Habipoğlu a unique occasion to reiterate his grateful thanks to Mr. Alfonsi for his participation at the fact finding mission to Western Thrace in October 2012 together with the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) President Hans-Heinrich Hansen and HRWF Director Willy Fautré.

Furthermore, President Habipoğlu transmitted to Mr. Alfonsi his sincere gratitude for graciously hosting the ABTTF conference in partnership with HRWF at the European Parliament on 28 November 2012. Having shared the assessment of the year 2012 in terms of progress in finding solution to the problems of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, Habipoğlu equally informed Mr. Alfonsi of the action plan for 2013.

ABTTF expressed disapproval to additional protocol passed regarding the 240 Imams Law

At his visit to HRWF Director Willy Fautré, President Habipoğlu reiterated his gratitude to Mr. Fautré for compiling the findings of the fact finding mission in October 2012 in an in dept human rights report. Mr. Habipoğlu informed Mr. Fautre on the recent developments in Western Thrace, in particular on Greek Parliament adopt a additional regulations to the law 3536/2007 which foresees and legitimizes the appointment of 240 Muslim scholars under the delegation of state-appointed muftis. Habipoğlu reported on the absence of any consultative action with the subjects of the legislation, i.e. the Western Thrace Turkish Minority as well as the verbal insults of the extreme right wing members of the Greek Parliament towards the ethnic Turk deputies opposing the regulation during the voting session at Greek Parliament.

Habipoğlu, in representation of the Western Thrace Turkish minority, called for entire annulment of the respective legislation which is in full violation of freedom of religion or belief.