ABTTF met with Members of the European Parliament in Brussels

ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu and ABTTF Vice-President had meetings with Euro deputies Kinga Göncz and Iuliu Winkler

Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) President Halit Habipoğlu and ABTTF Vice-President Cengiz İsmail were on working visit to Brussels. Within the mission taken place on 30 May 2013, Habipoğlu and Ismail had meetings with MEPs Kinga Göncz (Hungary) and Iuliu Winkler (Romania).

The rise of extreme right in Greece leads to increased tension between Muslims and the majority in the country

Accompanied by ABTTF Brussels Representation, ABTTF President Habipoğlu briefed Kinga Göncz on Western Thrace Turkish Minority and informed about the minority’s education and religious autonomy, which is defined and guaranteed by Lausanne Peace Treaty signed in 1923. Yet, given several practices initiated at different phases of history, the autonomy of the internationally recognised minority has been undermined and eventually has been out of order, said Habipoğlu. Further to this, Habipoğlu transmitted recent developments regarding the increasing number of hate attacks perpetuated by members and supporters of neo-Nazi political party, Golden Dawn to the Westerns Thrace Turkish Minority members.

At his meeting with MEP Iuliu Winkler, President Halit Habipoğlu expressed concerns on increase of the number of hate motivated attacks to Western Thrace Turkish Minority. The Golden Dawn members and supporters chanting racist slogans on motorcycled convoys generated anxiety and frustration at villages populated by ethnic Turkish citizens, informed Habipoğlu. Habipoğlu reported on a delibarate movement , which targets to increase tension between Muslims and the majority in the counrty, and presented the hatred and insult filled letter, sent to Muslim Association of Greece (MAG), to the attention of Mr. Winkler. Iuliu Winkler, while acknowledging the severe situation in Greece, expressed his worries to Mr. Habipoğlu and told the Hungarian minority in Slovakia and Serbia suffers from hate crimes as well. Upon these facts, Winkler stated the best and most efficient means to fight with racism and xenophobia is awareness rising through pubishing attacks on social media, voice them on political arena and bringing this reality to public agenda.