Council of Europe reviews rights of Western Thrace Turks in Greece

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) is set to vote on a monitoring report regarding Greece’s compliance with its obligations as a member state. The report, prepared by rapporteurs from Spain and Finland, addresses issues concerning the freedom of association for the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.

A central point of contention is the refusal of Greek authorities to register or allow the operation of associations that include the word ‘Turkish’ in their names. The report notes that while the Treaty of Lausanne refers to the group as a ‘Muslim minority,’ this does not preclude individuals from identifying as Turkish or exercising their right to organize under that identity.

The report highlights that Greece has failed to implement several rulings from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), specifically regarding the Bekir-Ousta group of cases and more recent decisions involving the Xanthi Turkish Women’s Cultural Association. These rulings found violations of the right to freedom of assembly and association.

Turkish political representatives, including İYİ Party MP Mehmet Akalın, have criticized the omission of the term ‘Turkish’ in official reports, arguing that the refusal to recognize this ethnic identity undermines human rights and legal principles established by the ECHR.