KOMOTINI
Greece has not applied the decision of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) concerning reopening of the Iskece (Ksanthi) Turkish Union which was shut down by Greek judicial authorities in 1986 due to the word "Turk" in its name and to abolish the ban on Rodop Turkish Women Culture Association reported the Turkish minorities' attorney.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, attorney of Turkish associations in Greece and former deputy from Komotini Ilhan Ahmet said that the ECHR decided five years ago that Greece violated the 11th article of Human Rights Declaration which refers to the freedom of founding associations and urged the Greek authorities to recognize the Iskece Turkish Union and Rodop Turkish Women Culture Association officially but Greece failed to live up to the respective decision.
Ahmet said that Greek authorities claim that the ECHR decision is not binding for it doesn't have any place in Greek law however as a member of EU Greece has to obey and apply the rules and decrees by ECHR.
“Indeed, the European Council Ministeral Board has an inspection committee which checks whether the member states apply the decisions of ECHR or not but unfortunately this committee does not work on the issue for now," said Ahmet.
Ahmet also said that the Greek government have already confiscated the properties of associations.
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