U.S. Department of State released Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013

ABTTF President Halit Habip Oğlu: The US report, which analyses the problems of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace from a superficial and unilateral perspective, unfortunately repeats the Greek State’s official position

U.S. Department of State released Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013. In its chapter on Greece, the report has several times referred to the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace as “Muslim Minority in Thrace”.

Turkish Minority of Western Thrace in the Report

Underlining the most critical human rights issue in the country as hate motivated violence against migrants and persons with non-Greek origin, the report indicates discrimination and social exclusion against the officially recognised “Muslim Minority in Thrace” among other human rights violations.

Application of Sharia law in Western Thrace is criticized

Upon the procedures of trial, it is reported that the Greek government recognises Sharia law regarding the matters regulating family and civic issues of the “Muslim Minority in Thrace” and it is uncovered that the marriage of Muslims concluded by state-appointed Muftis is subject to Sharia law. As it is covered by the part on discrimination, it is reported that UN independent expert on minority issues noted that in some instances Sharia law subjected Muslim women to norms incompatible with the constitution, legislation, and international standards. Besides, the report points out that National Human Rights Council gave advises for state-appointed Muftis’ powers to be limited to religious ones.

The Government officially recognises only the “Muslim minority in Thrace”

The report puts forth a number of citizens identifying themselves as Turks, Pomaks, Vlachs, Roma, Arvanites or Macedonian claim to be officially recognised as “linguistic minorities” or “minorities”. Furthermore, it is reported that within the framework of Lausanne Treaty signed in 1923, 120.000 persons composed of Turkish, Pomak and Romani communities in Thrace is officially recognised.

The associations bearing the work “Turk” in their titles are not recognised

The report notes although the government recognizes an individual’s right to self-identification, many individuals who defined themselves as members of a minority group found it difficult to express their identity freely and maintain their culture. Despite the fact that many individuals identify themselves as Turks, the word “Turks” is forbidden from use in association titles and furthermore those which bear the word “Turks” in their titles are denied from official recognition, specifies the report. The report lastly informs on the Greek Supreme Court’s (Areios Pagos) denial in April 2012 to comply with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision in 2008 for the recognition of Xanthi Turkish Union.

Halit Habip Oğlu: Last year’s report indicated the Minority’s population as 150.000 while this year it is mentioned as 120.000

Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), stated: “Regarding the situation of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, US Department of State Report on Human Rights Practices in Greece for 2013 suffices only by repeating Greece’s official position. The report, which does not make any mention on the problems of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace except those on freedom of assembly and association, had indicated Minority’s population as 150.000 last year and this year the figure is given as 120.000, which is the official number provided by the Greek government. Despite the consultative meetings held with the representative organisations and persons belonging to the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace and parallel reports submitted by ABTTF and other minority organisations, the problems of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace are unfortunately mentioned superficially and from a unilateral perspective within the US Report on Human Rights Practices in Greece for 2013. In line with our usual policy as ABTTF, we will reiterate the opinion of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace to the US authorities through a parallel report.”

You can access the full report via following link: http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper