Turkish Union of Xanthi
Encyclopedia
The Turkish Union of Xanthi is one of the three most important organizations of the Turkish minority of Western Thrace
. Founded in 1927, the organization was outlawed by Greek
authorities in 1987 and 1999. In 2008, a decision of the European Court of Human Rights
ordered the re-legalization of the association and convicted Greece of violating the freedom of association
; however, the Greek authorities refused to re-legalize it.
endangered public order and it should be used only to refer to Turkish citizens. 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 ordered 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 of article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Turkish Union of Xanthi then appealed the ruling to 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
. 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, stated that the ECHR decision was non-binding and that the court had neglected to consider "political" factors in its decision.
Turks of Western Thrace
Turks of Western Thrace are ethnic Turks who live in Western Thrace, in the north-eastern part of Greece.According to the Greek census of 1991, there were approximately 50,000 Turks in Western Thrace, out of the approximately 98,000 strong Muslim minority of Greece...
. Founded in 1927, the organization was outlawed by Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
authorities in 1987 and 1999. In 2008, a decision of the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
ordered the re-legalization of the association and convicted Greece of violating the freedom of association
Freedom of association
Freedom of association is the individual right to come together with other individuals and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests....
; however, the Greek authorities refused to re-legalize it.
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. 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 GreeceMuslim minority of Greece
The Muslim minority of Greece is the only explicitly recognized minority in Greece. It numbers 97,604 people or 0.91% of the total population, according to the 1991 census , and 140,000 people or 1.24% of the total population, according to the United States Department of State.The Muslim minority...
endangered public order and it should be used only to refer to Turkish citizens. In response to the court's decision, large protests, held primarily by Pomaks
Pomaks
Pomaks is a term used for a Slavic Muslim population native to some parts of Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo. The Pomaks speak Bulgarian as their native language, also referred to in Greece and Turkey as Pomak language, and some are fluent in Turkish,...
, took place in Komotini
Komotini
Komotini is a city in Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace and of the Rhodope regional unit. It is also the administrative center of the Rhodope-Evros super-prefecture. The city is home to the Democritus University of Thrace, founded in 1973...
. The organization appealed this decision to the Supreme Court of Greece (Court of Cassation
Court of Cassation (Greece)
The Court of Cassation is the Supreme Court of Greece for civil and criminal law. The Court of Cassation's decisions are irrevocable. If the Court of Cassation concludes that a lower court violated the law or the principles of the procedure, then it can order the rehearing of the case by the lower...
). In 2005, the Supreme Court of Greece ordered 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 of article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Turkish Union of Xanthi then appealed the ruling to the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
. 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
European Convention on Human Rights
The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by the then newly formed Council of Europe, the convention entered into force on 3 September 1953...
. 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, stated that the ECHR decision was non-binding and that the court had neglected to consider "political" factors in its decision.