ABTTF participated in the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe(ABTTF) and the Board Director of Culture and Education Foundation of Western Thrace Minority (C.E.F.O.M.) Pervin Hayrullah at this meeting, highlighted the rights of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace and the exposed xenophobia and intolerance were laid on the table.

ABTTF participated in the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting held between 29-30 September 2014 by Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The programme that was organised at the capital of Poland in Varsaw, Turkish Minority of Western Thrace Turks were represented by ABTTF International Affairs and Lobby Group members Bülent Aptouraim, Funda Reşit and (C.E.F.O.M.) Board Director Pervin Hayrullah.

Importance of education and active participation in society

OSCE Minorities High Commissioner Astrid Thors made an opening speech at the meeting`s ‘minority members rights’ part and stated that social solidarity and cohesion could take place only if the education and active participation works together and the abuse of training can be used for national interests. High commissioner, recommended the opening of minority schools after underlining the contribution of ethnic communities at the determination of teaching materilas. In addition, he expressed the need of kindergarten aged children`s to receive education in their mother tongue before learning the country's official language.

After this talk, ABTTF representative Funda Reşit gave a speech about the Western Thrace Turkish Minority kindergarten problem. Reşit reminded the Lausanne Treaty`s 3rd section which determines the minority`s rights “ Minority has the right to establish, manage its own schools, other educational institutions, mosques, foundations and other social institutions and use their own language in these institutions and worship freely”. However, it was stressed that in Greece, in 2006 according to the 3518 numbered law that was adopted preschool education became compulsor to all five years old children but it was not made any regulations for minority schools and this way the Minority`s arising educational rights from Lausanne Treaty have been violated. Funda Reşit has outlined three proposals on this issue at the end of her speech. Firstly, she demanded the establishment of bilingual minority Kindergartens, secondly the state Kindergartens should provide bilingual education until the opening of the minority ones and finally it must be allowed the establishment of private kindergartens in the region. Another participant of Turkish Minority of Western Thrace Turks (C.E.F.O.M.) Board Director Pervin Hayrullah mentioned about the 0.5% quota application that was launched in 1995, in Greece for university entrance but at the calculation of scores of Turkish minority high school students` school ratings are not taken into account and this is a great disadvantage for university entrance for Turkish minority high school students. Hayrullah also said that she will be very pleased to see a skilled person from the delegation of OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities to visit the European Union's most underdeveloped regions that is to say Western Thrace in order to experience the realities first-hand.

Then, the representative of Greece used his right to reply and said that the number of Muslim students attending college has increased in recent years. The representative continued saying that there are 57 kindergarten schools for minorities and the Greek government gave importance to receive minorities education in mother tongue and they were careful at languages and religions integration.

Ensuring Representation Rights and Equal Opportunity

Speaking at the active participation of Minority in society and representation rights session, Minority Rights Group International General Manager Mark Lattimer stated the duty of state to take responsibility in order to have integrated the minorities to society and make efforts especially in the fields of education.

Speaking at the same session, ABTTF respresentative Funda Reşit, pointed Western Thrace Turkish Minority`s underrepresentativeness in decision-making processes in the national and regional levels. She also talked about the presence of an electoral system like "Reinforced proportionality" which causes Western Thrace Turkish Minority of members not be elcted as an independent candidate to parliament. Lastly, she demanded from the Greek government the removal of 3% threshold in national elections so this way it shoul be provided to the Western Thrace Turkish Minority active participation in politics at regional, local and national level and active role in the decision-making process.

After that, speaking at the same session (C.E.F.O.M.) Board Director Pervin Hayrullah emphasized the fact that although the Western Thrace Turkish Minority represents half of the population in the region, faces social discrimination like not receiving task in high positions in the military and there is not single Turkish policeman after stating the presentation importance of the equality of opportunity.

The Greek representative responsed to this issue saying that in almost every parliamentary elections, Turks and Romanians enter parliament and currently there are three Turkish deputies. Furthermore, he indicated that 3% threshold is one of the lowest rates available in Europe, and 1,500 citizens from minority served in the various institutions of the state.

Struggle against Racism, Intolerance and Discrimination

Speaking at the session of tolerance and combating discrimination, Prof. Talip Küçükcan stated that violence against Muslims increased with each passing day and the police had raided mosques in order to search for weapons under the modearation of "The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance" representative Michael Whine. Küçükcan also raised his concerns about rapidly spread of hate speech against Muslims through social media and stressed closely monitoring of this kind of activities.On the other hand, ABTTF International Affairs and Lobby Group member Funda Reşit added the need of banning the racist parties in the political sense and punishment of hateful rhetoric.