Turks of Western Thrace - Obligations of The Treaty of Lausanne

Obligations of The Treaty of Lausanne

Article 37 through 45 of the Lausanne Treaty set forth the obligations of the Greek and Turkish governments to protect the Turkish and Greek minorities in their territories. Each country agreed to provide the following:

• Protection of life and liberty without regard to birth, nationality, language, race or religion
• Free exercise of religion
• Freedom of movement and of emigration
• Equality before the law
• The same civil and political rights enjoyed by the majority
• Free use of language in private, in commerce, in religion, the press and publications, at public meetings and in the courts
• The right to establish and control charitable, religious and social institutions and schools
• Primary schools in which instruction is given in both languages
• Full protection for religious establishments and pious foundation

The Lausanne Treaty defined the rights of the Muslim communities in Western Thrace, on the basis of religion, not ethnicity, as well as maintained a balance between the minority communities of both countries (Turks in Greece and Greeks in Turkey) on reciprocal obligations toward each of those minorities. The Treaty contained specific obligations for their cultural and religious rights. However, at no time since 1923 did Greek officials instigate, support, or undertake measures against the Muslims of Western Thrace similar to those undertaken by successive Turkish Governments against the Greek minority in Turkey (like forced labor battalions, the Istanbul pogrom), a minority that is nearly eliminated today (70,000 in 1923 to 3,000 in 2000).