A written statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council by ABTTF

In its written statement to the United Nations, ABTTF raised the problems of the Turkish minority of Western Thrace on the Mufti issue and the recent developments on this

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) submitted a written statement titled “The freedom to elect their own religious leader and the long-lasted problem about mufti in Greece” to the 34th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council held in Geneva, Switzerland from February 27th and March 24th, 2017.

In its written statement, ABTTF noted that the legal status of the Turkish minority of Western Thrace is based on the Treaty of Lausanne and further added that the minority has the right to es-tablish, manage and control its own religious institutions and to practice its own religion freely therein.

ABTTF mentioned in details historical background of the Mufti issue and noted that in violation of the 1913 Athens Treaty and the 1923 Lausanne Treaty, muftis in Komotini, Xanthi and Didy-moteicho are appointed by the Presidential Decree of 24 December 1990. ABTTF added that the Turkish minority of Western Thrace consequently elected their own muftis, but they were not rec-ognized by Greek authorities and that they were prosecuted and even were sentenced to prison in charge of illegal use of religious symbols.

ABTTF noted that there is a duality today in Western Thrace, the Muftis appointed by the State and the Muftis elected by the Turkish minority and added that under a law adopted in 2013, known as 240 Imam law, the government decided to appoint 240 Islamic religious instructors to teach Islam to the children belonging to the Turkish minority in Greek-language public primary and secondary schools and mosques in Western Thrace under the auspices of the government-appointed muftis. ABTTF also mentioned that the term of the Deputy Mufti (appointed) in Didy-moteicho and another deputy was appointed until the permanent appointment of the Mufti. ABTTF further noted that according to comments in the media the Greek government demands resignation of appointed Mufti of Rhodope and appointed Mufti of Xanthi in order to make ad hoc appointments until the election of the Muftis by religious instructors hired in the public schools in the region of Western Thrace under Law 4115/2013 and that the Greek government would then appoint these persons as the Muftis for Rhodope, Xanthi and Didymoticho which would be a clear violation of the religious autonomy granted by international treaties.

ABTTF emphasized in its written statement that the freedom of religion of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace is clearly violated and called the Greek government to act in accordance with the 1913 Athens and the 1923 Lausanne treaties and to allow the Turkish minority to elect their own muftis and to recognize the elected muftis. ABTTF called upon Greek authorities to repeal Law 4115/2013, knowns as 240 Imam Law and to establish a formal mechanism for dialogue between governmental authorities and the Turkish minority.

For the full statement by ABTTF submitted to the UN Human Rights Council 34th Regular Ses-sion:
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G17/035/60/PDF/G1703560.pdf?OpenElement