A/HRC/10/11/Add.3 page 7 Recognition of Turkish ethnicity 13. The Independent Expert visited Western Thrace bordering Turkey in eastern Greece, including the cities of Xanthi and Komotini, where the Muslim minority resides. Many of the Muslim minority claim ethnic Turkish identity and desire to be recognized as a Turkish national minority. Community members argue that the Treaty of Lausanne does not prohibit collective ethnic identification as a Turkish minority. Many consider that their claim is misunderstood by the government as reflecting an irredentist movement under the political influence of Turkey. 14. The Government highlights that the Muslim minority in Western Thrace is not homogeneous and consists of three distinct groups whose members are of Turkish, Pomak and Roma ethnicity, each with distinct languages and cultural traditions. While acknowledging the Turkish origin of most, they claim that attempts to identify the entire Muslim community as Turkish are “not only unacceptable but [would] not correspond to existing realities and the actual composition of the Muslim minority, in accordance with objective criteria.”3 They believe that the view of the minority as homogeneous is promoted for political reasons. Government representatives noted that its positive efforts to integrate the Muslim minority into Greek society are met with criticism from some circles which wish the minority to remain separate and clearly promoting their Turkish identity. 15. Many community members of Turkish ethnic origin firmly rejected the government position of identifying three groups within the Muslim minority. One stating: “For us being Muslim and being Turkish are one and the same.” However, the Independent Expert met individuals who self-identified as Pomak and Roma who described pressure to speak and learn Turkish instead of Pomak and to identify as Turkish. One described a climate of intimidation and pressure for their children to attend minority schools. Some stated that members of the Pomak and Roma community are discriminated against if they do other than describe themselves as Turkish. 16. Ethnic Turkish representatives state their freedom of association is violated by the 1987 Greek High Court decision that an association bearing the name “Turkish” must be dissolved. Several minority associations have ceased to function or function only informally. In February 2005, the Turkish Xanthi Union, established in 1927 was dissolved. The establishment of a Cultural Association of Turkish Women of Rodopi was rejected by the Greek Supreme Court. Community representatives stress the importance of associations for the preservation of community identity and culture. They note that Armenian associations function legally including the word “Armenian” in their names. 17. The European Court on Human Rights has consistently found against Greece when these issues have come before it,4 concluding that Greece has violated Article 11 of the European Convention (right to freedom of association) and rejecting government attempts to justify the 3 4 Memorandum from the Government of Greece to the Independent Expert. Bekir-Ousta and others, Judgment of 11/10/2007; Ermin and Others v. Greece, Judgment of 27/03/2008; Tourkiki Enosi Xanthis and others, Judgment 27/02/2008, final on 29/09/2008.