Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS495
2008-04-03 09:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
HUMAN RIGHTS COURT SIDES WITH TURKISH MINORITY IN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHTH #0495/01 0940923 ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADX0797C50 MSI2368 611) R 030923Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1587 INFO RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ATHENS 000495
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY: CABLE SENT TWICE IN ERROR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KIRF PHUM GR
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS COURT SIDES WITH TURKISH MINORITY IN
GREECE
CANCEL THIS CABLE, NUMBER ATHENS 495.
A DUPLICATE CABLE WAS SENT AS ATHENS 494.
face-saving vehicle for the GoG of pointing to the ECHR
ruling rather than an affirmative step by any Greek
politician to bring an end to this long-running and
essentially silly issue. In the alternative and more
likely case that the government continues to refuse to
allow "Turkish" associations, the ECHR ruling will provide
more definitive grounds to challenge the Greek Government's
practice, as the ECHR decision appears to challenge the GoG
practice ofbanning associations with the name "Turkish" in
their title. The initial government reaction as been
muted, with the MFA spokesman simply noting that the
government "respects" the ECHR and will "carefully study"
its findings.
6. (U) (Comment continued) The Rodopi Court decision is an
important precedent, as it is the first time we are aware
of that a Greek court has seriously reviewed a decision
made by a Mufti that was based upon interpretations of
Shari'a law that do not exist in written form and therefore
could not be appealed previously. What remains unclear is
whether this was an aberration or an indication of a new
willingness of the Greek judiciary to engage more actively
on what has been a serious problem for Muslim women in
Thrace. Currently, examples of women routinely being
denied custody of children in divorce cases, or finding
themselves divorced via summary procedures, and even
inheriting far smaller shares of property under Muslim
intestacy laws are the norm in Thrace.
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY: CABLE SENT TWICE IN ERROR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KIRF PHUM GR
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS COURT SIDES WITH TURKISH MINORITY IN
GREECE
CANCEL THIS CABLE, NUMBER ATHENS 495.
A DUPLICATE CABLE WAS SENT AS ATHENS 494.
face-saving vehicle for the GoG of pointing to the ECHR
ruling rather than an affirmative step by any Greek
politician to bring an end to this long-running and
essentially silly issue. In the alternative and more
likely case that the government continues to refuse to
allow "Turkish" associations, the ECHR ruling will provide
more definitive grounds to challenge the Greek Government's
practice, as the ECHR decision appears to challenge the GoG
practice ofbanning associations with the name "Turkish" in
their title. The initial government reaction as been
muted, with the MFA spokesman simply noting that the
government "respects" the ECHR and will "carefully study"
its findings.
6. (U) (Comment continued) The Rodopi Court decision is an
important precedent, as it is the first time we are aware
of that a Greek court has seriously reviewed a decision
made by a Mufti that was based upon interpretations of
Shari'a law that do not exist in written form and therefore
could not be appealed previously. What remains unclear is
whether this was an aberration or an indication of a new
willingness of the Greek judiciary to engage more actively
on what has been a serious problem for Muslim women in
Thrace. Currently, examples of women routinely being
denied custody of children in divorce cases, or finding
themselves divorced via summary procedures, and even
inheriting far smaller shares of property under Muslim
intestacy laws are the norm in Thrace.