ABTTF met with Council of Europe officials in Strasbourg

ABTTF communicated Minority’s ongoing problems to the Office of Council Europe Human Rights Commissioner and European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) paid an official visit to European Council Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) on 1-2 October 2013. Organised during the plenary session and attended by ABTTF General Secretary Gökhan Kocaveli and ABTTF General Director K.Engin Soyyılmaz, the visit included meetings with Matthieu Birker advisor of Nils Muiznieks, Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner, and consultations with ECRI expert Thobias Bergmann.

ABTTF informed the Office of the Commissioner Muiznieks that a large group of public officials, including leaders of Golden Dawn Party, have been arrested upon investigations following the murder of Pavlos Fyssas, a Greek hip-hop artist. ABTTF called for full transparency in investigation of Golden Dawn and underlined that as it was stated at Commissioner’s report, previously released after his visit to Greece in December 2012, Western Thrace Turkish Minority is targeted by groups in support of Golden Dawn ideology and activities.

ABTTF informed on severe interventions in Western Thrace Turkish Minority’s autonomy in religion and education by providing details on “240 Imams Law”, a new regulation 4115/2013, which foresees 240 religious scholars to be appointed by the state and teach in mosques and public schools. Having reported that the respective bill passed in 2013 after modifications on initial form issued in 2007 is already in implementation and the first badge of state appointed religious scholars started their duty in public schools.

Regarding the autonomy in education, ABTTF informed on the last education reform in 2006, when kindergartens were included in mandatory education system. Upon this briefing, ABTTF indicated as the Greek state does not authorise establishment of bilingual kindergartens, the pupils belonging to minority are obliged to attend public schools, which offer education only in Greek. ABTTF underlined that despite last year’s education scandal in Echinos (Şahin) which was led by denial of 20 kids from registry to primary school and dismissal of the principal of the minority school, the problem with bilingual education in kindergartens are still waiting for a settlement.

Lastly ABTTF informed on the suspended associations, which included the word “Turk” in their names, and added that the new ones to be established are not authorised for registrations. Despite the three decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) favouring the re-establishment of the respective associations, Greece still fails to comply with ECtHR rulings in this matter.