The Establishment of Meric Minority Youth Association in Greece is not allowed

• The Establishment of Meric Minority Youth Association in Greece is not allowed.

• Supreme Court of Appeals rationale behind that decision was as follows: Usage of the word „Minority“ does not make it clear whether the founders of the association is Muslim or Turkish and such an ambiguity is aganist laws.

• Halit Habipoglu, chairman of ABTTF revealed that he found it very sad that there had not been any improvement in minority human rights in Greece.


Up to now, it was not allowed to establish associations with „Turkish“ word in it in Greece and now it is not allowed to use „Minority“ word in associations names as well.

On 14 December 1995, Western Thrace Turkish Minority Youth conveyed their request to Dedeagac (Alexandroupolis) Civil Court of First Instance to recognize their association „Meric Minority Youth“. Their petition was rejected by Dedeagac (Alexandroupolis) Civil Court of First Instance by 58 – 1996 dated decision and by Trakya (Thrace) Civil Court of First Instance by 423 – 1998 numbered decision. Supreme Court of Appeals handled the case in 2006 and it was rejected as there is „minority“ word in the name of the association.

It is not clear whether mentioned association represents Muslims or Turks

The reason as to why the association can not be founded was summarized as follows; The name of an association detrmines its structure and identity. However, we see an ambiguity as to whether that association represents Turkish Minority Youth or Muslim Youth. That creates concern, conflict and suspicion which is aganist public order and in that sense it is also illegal.“

Reason suggested by Supreme Court of Appeals was surprising

Halit Habipoglu made a press release about the subject and revealed that it was sad for Greece that it had not accomplished any improvement in the human right issues for years. Habipoglu cited that they had been struggling for a long time for the rights of the associations that were closed due to „Turkish“ word and he continued as „Cases of Iskece (Xanthi) Turkish Solidarity Association (it was closed) and Rodop Turkish Women Culture Association (foundation permission was not granted) are still at European Council of Human Rights. As we are struggling for the rights of the associations that were closed due to „Turkish“ word in their names, now Greek authorities begin to ban the foundations of the associations that have „minority“ word in their names. I find the reason suggested by Supreme Court of Appeals surprising. It was cited that there is an ambiguity as to whether that „minority“word refers to Muslim minority or Turkish minority. Should we derive the result that it is good when that refers to Muslim minority and bad when it refers to Turkish minority. Our minority is forced to identify themselves as Muslim.“