Western Thrace Turks appeal to Council of Europe over rights violations
European flags outside the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on on March 19, 2025 (AFP Photo)
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) highlighted ongoing challenges facing the Turkish minority in Greece during the Spring Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg.
Melek Kirmaci, International Relations Director for ABTTF, addressed a meeting organized by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), where she outlined key issues affecting the Turkish community in Western Thrace.
The presentation focused on several persistent problems, including Greece’s refusal to recognize the ethnic identity of Western Thrace Turks, restrictions on freedom of association, and the systematic weakening of educational autonomy guaranteed to the minority.
Kirmaci emphasized that rights to educational and religious autonomy, originally granted to the Western Thrace Turkish community under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, have been systematically eroded over decades. She noted that Greek authorities continue to reject the Turkish identity and have closed associations that include the word “Turkish” in their names.
The education situation remains particularly concerning, according to the presentation. The region lacks bilingual Turkish kindergartens, with applications to establish such institutions being systematically rejected.
The number of Turkish primary schools has declined dramatically from 188 in 2011 to just 86 for the 2024-2025 academic year, presenting what ABTTF describes as a serious threat to the future of minority education in the region.
