Turkish Union of Xanthi
| Formation | 1927 |
|---|---|
| Type | non-governmental organization |
| Headquarters | Xanthi, Greece |
| Location | |
President | Ozan Ahmetoglu |
| Affiliations | Cultural Association of Turkish Women of the Region of Rodopi Union of Turkish Youth of Komotini |
| Website | http://www.iskeceturkbirligi.org/ |
The Turkish Union of Xanthi (Turkish: İskeçe Türk Birliği, Greek: Τουρκική Ένωση Ξάνθης) is one of the three most important organizations of the Turkish minority of Western Thrace.[1][2] Founded in 1927 the organization was outlawed by Greek authorities in 1987 and 1999. In 2008 after a decision of the European Court of Human Rights ruled the re-legalization of the association and convicted Greece of violating the freedom of association, however, the Greek authorities refused to re-legalize it.[3]
History
The organization was founded in 1927 as the House of the Turkish youth in Xanthi. In 1936 it was renamed and registered as the Turkish Union of Xanthi, which is its current name.[4] In November 1987 along with other Turkish organizations of western Thrace, the Turkish Union of Xanthi was banned because according to the court the word "Turkish" in their titles as a description for members of the Muslim minority of Greece endangered public order and it should be used only to refer to Turkish citizens.[1] In response to the court's decision large protests, held primarily by Pomaks took place in Komotini. The organization appealed this decision to the Supreme Court of Greece(Court of Cassation). In 2005 the Supreme Court of Greece ruled the dissolution of the association, which according to the court "constitutes an attempt to affirm the presence of a Turkish minority in Greece", although such rulings have been judged to be in breach with article 11 of the European Court of Human Rights.[5]
The Turkish Union of Xanthi then appealed the ruling in the European Court of Human Rights. On March 27, 2008 the court re-legalized the organization and other Turkish associations of the region. Additionally the rulings of the Greek courts were judged to be violations of the European Convention on Human Rights.[6] The Greek government appealed the decision and refused to recognize the Turkish Union of Xanthi, however the European Court of Human Rights upheld its first ruling. In December 2008 the Appeals Court of Thrace, which ruled against the re-legalization of the association has stated the the ECHR decision was non-binding and that it had "had neglected to consider "political" factors in its decision.[3]
Sources
- ^ a b Crossing the Aegean. An Appraisal of the 1923 Compulsory Population Exchange between Greece and TurkeyRenée Hirschon p.105
- ^ Yearbook of Muslims in Europe Jorgen Nielsen
- ^ a b 2009 Human Rights Report: Greece U.S Department of State
- ^ Report by Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, following his visit to Greece on 8-10 December 2008.
- ^ Racism and Discrimination against Immigrants and Minorities in Greece: The State of Play Miltos Pavlou p.14
- ^ Orthodox Christianity in 21st Century Greece: The Role of Religion in Culture,Ethnicity and Politics Victor Roudometof, Vasilios Makrides p.122