THE CURRENT PROBLEMS OF THE TURKS OF WESTERN THRACE IN GREECE AS A MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

This study intends both to establish the judicial status of the Muslim Turks in Western Thrace of Greece and to examine and demonstrate the violations of their various rights as minority citizens of Greece from a legal perspective. The legal hurdles that the Turkish minority in Greece have been going through and have to confront for a long time are found in such diverse issues and areas as the expression of beliefs and religious practice, foundations, education and schooling, employment, possession of real estates, learning mother language, political participation and representation, and associations. By examining these areas and issues, this work establishes and demonstrates various subtle obstacles in the enjoyment and realisation by the Turkish minority of their rights accorded to them through various international treaties to which Greece is a party, the bilateral agreements between Turkey and Greece, and Greek state‟s own legal system as a member of the European Union