MUSLIM TURKISH MINORITY IN WESTERN THRACE

INTRODUCTION

It is estimated that over 150.000 ethnic Turks live in Western Thrace, in the North-Eastern part of Greece. Turks settled in the region in the twelfth century and eversince they coexisted with their Greek neighbors sharing the same geography. The Treaty of Lausanne (July 24, 1923) established the status of the Muslim Turkish Minority in Western Thrace along with that of the Greek minority in Istanbul.

Members of the minority speak both Turkish and Greek. Their children attend special minority schools where the curriculum is bilingual, i.a. in addition to native Turkish, they also learn the official language.

Over the years, Muslim Turkish Minority in Western Thrace encountered serious human rights violations, discriminative treatment and persecution.

Their ethnic identity has been subjected to a systematic campaign of assimilation. Due to prolonged neglect and lack of development, their living standards remained amongst the lowest compared to the rest of the Greek society and within the European Union. They have been exposed to utter discrimination in government offices and, for decades, their fundamental citizens' rights have been ignored or denied.

In flagrant violation of Treaty provisions (Treaty of Lausanne and other relevant multilateral and bilateral instruments) safeguarding Muslim Turkish minority's indigenous institutions, i.a. its educational system, religious institutions, charitable foundations, Greece pursued policies to disrupt the minority's integrity and to degrade its social structure and moral values.

Until recently, Turkish Minority in Western Thrace have not been allowed to excercise even some of their principle constitutional rights. For decades, they were intentionally denied access to basic property rights and vital public services. Their settlements, particularly in the mountaneous areas, have been defined as military zones, they were isolated from the outside world and subjected to severe travel restrictions. In addition to these policies, the minority was victimized by arbitrary expulsion of tens of thousands of its members from Greek citizenship. This operation was carried out systematically for a long time based on a racist legal provision that contradicted with the Constitution. Greek newspapers disclosed that as many as 60.000 members of the muslim Turkish minority may have been expelled from citizenship during that period.

On the top of these policies, a crucial institution of the minority, its autonomous educational system has been exposed to ruthless interference both in the form of alteration of the curriculum, appointment of specially trained teachers and administration of the schools. Currently there are 227 active minority elementary schools, 2 secondary schools and 2 madrasas. Greece founded, in flagrant violation of its Treaty obligations a disputed Special Pedagogical Academy in Tessaloniki in 1968 and ever since, Greek Ministry Of Education and Religious Affairs has been appointing the graduates of this institution as teachers to minority schools to widespread dismay of the Turks of Western Thrace.

While pointing at the problems, one has to also recognize positive changes. Recently a number of steps have been taken towards elimination or reduction of the tensions and correction of some of the mistakes of the past. Since early 90es, Greece adopted what it calls the policy of "equality among all citizens" (Isonomia-Isopolitia), through which the Government gradually started to concede some of the rights that have been denied to the minority or curtailed in the past, (land purchase rights, home repair and construction permits, issuing of working and driving licences etc.). Actually this was a move towards the rectification of a prolonged violation of the Greek Constitution. In 1998 the infamous "Article 19" of the "Citizenship Act" has been abolished. But since this was not done retroactively, even today, tens of thousands of minority members, unlawfully expelled from Greek citizenship during and after the military rule continue to suffer. The victims of Article 19 face further collateral damage in terms of their rights as lawful citizens of the European Union. There are also hundreds of "heimatloss" people living in Greece and elsewhere under disgraceful conditions.

Solemn principles of democracy and respect for human rights dictate today's modern societies the adoption of sincere, transparent and constructive attitudes towards fair and lasting solutions to such problems.


DENIAL OF ETHNIC IDENTITY

Greek authorities refer to the members of the minority as "Greek Moslems" and try to impose an artificial sense of otherness to certain segments of the minority as if they belong to different ethnic groups. Coupled with targeted educational, cultural and other manipulative programs this attitude triggers reaction and deepens the confidence gap between the minority citizens and the Government.

During 40es and 50es, Greek authorities have publicly and intentionally asked and expected the minority to use the title "Turkish" while naming their institutions and schools. Later on, unfortunately this policy has been reversed. Greek Government became intransigent regarding minority's self identification as "Turks". Furthermore in line with this policy, Turkish Minority associations which have been established in the beginning of the XXth century and operated as legitimate civil society institutions for many decades, have been banned by court orders.

At this juncture of history, it would only be wise and appropriate, if and when Greece reconciles with this small but important segment of its population and embrace them as a truely valuable element of its rich and diverse cultural heritage. She should lose no time in recognizing the existence of the Turkish minority and fully respect their rights as an indigenous society.


FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

Throughout decades, Turkish Minority suffered tremendously. Their land ownership in Western Thrace declined from 85 % to below 30%. Most valuable arable lands and farms have been nationalized or purchased by the government, or with the motivation and support of the state, they have been acquired by the majority population.

Minority citizens' right to property acquisition have been subject to prior permission of the Ministry of National Defence. Large portions of the region have been declared military zone. Strict travel regulations isolated the minority not only from the civilized world and international press, but also severely undermined access even between the villages.

In recent years, some of the restrictions on acquisition of land and property, issuing of driving licences, initiation of new businesses, access to loans etc. have been partly relieved. There has also been progress in terms of prevention of arbitrary prosecutions and oppressive treatment targeting the minority. Yet, remnants of racial intolerence and discrimination still exist and they continue to surface from time to time undermining social peace and intercommunal understanding.

Greece alleges that, the policy of "equality among citizens" is a sufficient reform and continues to ignore its obligations regarding outstanding fundamental issues. It is obvious that there, Greece has a long way to go, and, further progress and determined efforts are needed in order to repair the injustices of the past.


EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS

As a result of the systematic distortion of the principles and institutions of the minority educational system, today, young generations of the Muslim Turkish Minority of Western Thrace face serious problems almost in every field. Their native language training has been degraded, the level of their overall academic curriculum is unsatisfactory, and consequently, these young people face widespread difficulties in their adolescent lives, as well as professional carriers.

Muslim Turks of Western Thrace constitute both a religious and a linguistic minority. Articles 40 and 41 of the Treaty of Lausanne provides equal rights to minority to establish, manage, and control at their own expense, any schools.....,(40)..... and adequate facilities for ensuring that in the primary schools instruction shall be given to the children through the medium of their own language...(41).

In defience of the foregoing, central authority constantly interferes with and undermines the autonomy of the minority education through different ways such as selection, training and appointment of teachers. Domestic and International observers agree that the education provided in minority schools is "significantly of lower quality" than in other Greek schools.

Despite the fact that the educational rights of this minority are protected by national, international and inter-state instruments, currently the level of proficiency and linguistic skills of the minority school teachers and other shortcomings in the system are highly dissapointing. Also there is a major discrepancy regarding the duration of training. Whereas the Greek Constitution defines compulsory education as 9 years, Minority's compulsory education is designed only for 6 years. Lack of initiatives and progress in this sector may be interpreted as an indication of an ulterieur motive to gradually reorienting the minority students towards Greek majority schools. It is notewothy that the Government establishes more and more nurseries and Gymnasia operating only with Greek curriculum in the villages inhabited by Turkish minority.


RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS AND CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS

Two other important areas of controversy where the Turkish Minority faces serious legal and institutional problems are respectively the Minority's right to establish and control its own social and charitable organisations (pious foundations) and their right to elect their religious leaders (Muftis).

Treaty of Athens of1913 and the Treaty of Lausanne of1923, provide for Muslim Turkish Minority's right to maintain and manage charitable organisations (Wakfs) and elect their religious leaders (Muftis).

At present the Wakfs are administered by individuals appointed by the Greek Government at the time of the military Junta in the 60's. Obviously they are mismanaged, downgraded and misused. I would like to highlight that the minority has no knowledge, control and supervision of their direction, conduct and/or finances. These functions are currently being carried out by the so called "appointed Boards".

The Government has appointed Muftis to Komotini and Xanthi and an acting Mufti to Didimotiho against minority's will.

The authorities disregard the Muftis elected by the minority and persecute them on grounds of issuing religious messages to the community. Several of the elected Muftis' court cases still continue...Elected Muftis, İbrahim Şerif (of Komotini) and Mehmet emin Ağa (of Xanthi) appealed to the European Court of Human Rights on some of these cases. The court sentenced Greece to pay compensation to Elected Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif in one case. Based on this judgement, Greek Supreme Court ruled that, (The Elected Muftis) are not to be punished because of the messages they issue to the believers and for using the title of "Mufti", as long as they do not attempt to exploit the actual judicial powers entrusted in the Muslim religious leaders. Thus government of Greece maintains its uncompromising position on this sensitive problem

I would like to recall that :

In addition to the provisions of the Treaties of Athens and Lausanne, also Article 6 (g) of the "Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion", states the right to;

"Train, appoint, elect or designate by succession, apropriate leaders called for by the requirements and standarts of any religion or belief,"

The same principle is enschrined also in Article - I of the "UN Declaration of Persons Belonging to Minorities", and Article -18 of the "UN Declaration of Human Rights" and Greece is a signatory to all these instruments...


CONCLUSION

It is evident that lack of progress on such fundamental issues cause continued social frustration and deepen the crisis of confidence between the Minority and the State. Furthermore, prolonged delays in finding tangible solutions to crucial problems undermine stability and prevent sense of security in the minds of the future generations. I am sure you would agree with me that this would not serve our common goal of a united, peaceful and prosperous Europe.

I would therefore like to draw the attention of the Greek authorities to the rightful concerns of the Muslim Turkish Minority in Western Thrace and hope that the international community do not spare its valuable efforts from encouraging the Government of Greece to create a positive environment for the Turkish minority to exercise their rights free from interference, and in an environment of dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation.

In conclusion, Mr Chairman, I would like to invite you to pay a visit to Western Thrace since I believe only accurate and objective understanding of the facts can contribute to dialogue and reconciliation.