Die Hausarbeit untersucht die türkisch-muslimischen Minderheiten in West Thrakien/Griechenland, mit Schwerpunkt auf die rechtliche Stellung der Minderheiten, welche in verschiedenen Verträgen geregelt sind. Die Arbeit zeigt anhand konkreter Beispiele wie die griechischen Autoritäten mit den muslimischen Minderheiten umgehen, welche Verbesserungen schon eingetreten sind und wo die Rechte noch vernachlässigt werden.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What is a minority?
3. Legal conditions and regulations
3.1 The Treaty of Lausanne – a bilateral agreement
3.2 The United Nations and their conventions
3.3 European legal framework
4. Greeks Muslim minority
4.1 Identity issues
4.2 Article 19 of the Greek citizenship code
4.3 Career
4.4 Selection of Muftis
5. Conclusions
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the legal status and socio-political situation of the Muslim minority in Western Thrace, Greece. It explores how international legal frameworks, particularly the Treaty of Lausanne and UN conventions, interact with Greek state policy and influence the identity, rights, and treatment of this minority group.
- Legal status of the Muslim minority under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.
- The role and limitations of international bodies (UN, EU) in protecting minority rights.
- Identity conflicts, including the denial of Turkish ethnic self-identification by the Greek state.
- Administrative discriminatory practices, such as the former Article 19 of the citizenship code.
- The ongoing dispute regarding the appointment versus the election of Muftis.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Identity issues
The perception of the minority within Greece is changing. In the 1990´s the deputy foreign minister Ioannis Kapsis passionately told to the American journalist Robert Kaplan that: “no Turks live in Greece… There are only some Greeks who happen to be Muslim and happen to speak Turkish to each other…”
While the Turkish government and recently also the political leadership of the minority speak of one Turkish minority the official Greek position reduces the Greek Muslims to a mere religious community and doesn’t accept any ethnic character. The Greek government’s attitude towards the Turkish minority is conflictual. They are seen as an outside threat that must be minimized or isolated. The most obvious sign of this is the continued state policy of denying the ethnic identity of the minority, which, whether acquired by birth or through acculturation, is mainly Turkish. While it is true that the minority is mixed on an ethno linguistic basis, being made up of ethnic Turks, Pomaks and Romas, the group overwhelmingly identifies itself as Turkish. Indeed many Pomaks and Romas will, especially to outsiders, even deny their ethno linguistic origin in the belief that being called “Pomaks” or “Romas” is merely a state artifice to suppress them.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the paper, focusing on the Muslim minority in Western Thrace and the influence of legal frameworks on their situation.
2. What is a minority?: Provides a theoretical definition of the term "minority" based on F. Capotorti and discusses the characteristics of the Muslim minority in Western Thrace.
3. Legal conditions and regulations: Analyzes the legal foundations governing the minority, including the Treaty of Lausanne, UN conventions, and the European legal framework.
3.1 The Treaty of Lausanne – a bilateral agreement: Details the 1923 peace settlement and the policy of reciprocity between Greece and Turkey concerning their respective minorities.
3.2 The United Nations and their conventions: Evaluates the role of the UN in monitoring minority rights through human rights frameworks and declarations.
3.3 European legal framework: Discusses the limited impact of EU policies and the non-ratification of the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on National Minorities by Greece.
4. Greeks Muslim minority: Examines specific challenges faced by the minority, including identity politics and administrative hurdles.
4.1 Identity issues: Explores the tension between the official Greek classification of a "Muslim minority" and the minority’s self-identification as "Turkish."
4.2 Article 19 of the Greek citizenship code: Analyzes the discriminatory impact of this former law on the citizenship status of non-ethnic Greeks.
4.3 Career: Investigates claims of discrimination against non-Orthodox citizens in the military, civil service, and public sector employment.
4.4 Selection of Muftis: Highlights the conflict over the state-led appointment of religious leaders versus the community's desire for elected Muftis.
5. Conclusions: Summarizes the current state of the minority, acknowledging some improvements while emphasizing the need for better integration and adherence to international standards.
Keywords
Western Thrace, Muslim minority, Greece, Treaty of Lausanne, Turkish identity, human rights, reciprocity, citizenship code, Mufti, minority rights, discrimination, assimilation, European Union, United Nations, identity politics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the legal and social situation of the Muslim minority in Western Thrace, Greece, and how their rights are influenced by international agreements and domestic state policies.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include ethnic versus religious identity, the implementation of international treaty obligations, discriminatory administrative practices, and the balance between state security concerns and minority rights.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to evaluate how specific legal frameworks, such as the Treaty of Lausanne, have influenced the treatment of the Muslim minority in Greece and to identify areas of progress and stagnation.
Which scientific method is used?
The work utilizes a qualitative analysis of legal documents, international human rights reports, and scholarly literature to assess the situation of the minority in its historical and political context.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the definition of minorities, legal regulations (Lausanne, UN, EU), and specific case studies concerning identity, citizenship, employment, and the selection of religious leaders.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is best characterized by terms such as Western Thrace, Muslim minority, Treaty of Lausanne, human rights, Turkish identity, and minority protection.
How does the author characterize the official Greek position on the minority's identity?
The author notes that the Greek state officially reduces the minority to a "Muslim" religious community and actively denies any "Turkish" ethnic character, viewing such identification as a potential threat to national security.
What was the function of Article 19 of the Greek citizenship code?
Article 19 was used to revoke the Greek nationality of individuals of non-Greek ethnic origin who left the country, thereby attempting to alter the demographic balance in Western Thrace in favor of ethnic Greeks.
Why is the appointment of Muftis a contentious issue?
The state's appointment of Muftis is seen by many in the minority as a violation of their right to manage their own religious affairs, leading them to organize their own independent "elected" Muftis.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Susanne Voigt (Autor:in), 2007, Minorities in Greece - Legal regulations and third party influence , München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/186424
