Greece reiterated its established positions on the Muslim minority in Thrace through a verbal note to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, responding to issues raised within relevant UN procedures. In the text, Athens emphasizes that the Muslim minority is recognized exclusively as a religious minority, in accordance with the Treaty of Lausanne, and numbers more than 120,000 Greek citizens.
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UN: What the verbal note submitted on March 30, 2026 addresses
The verbal note, submitted by Greece’s Permanent Mission to the UN on March 30, 2026, extensively addresses the Muslim minority of Thrace, placing particular emphasis on educational rights, religious freedoms, and the institutional protection framework in force in the country. It also reiterates that Greece fully implements the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne and European legislation.
“Steadfast commitment to educational rights”
In the communication text, the Greek side emphasizes that it remains “steadfastly committed” to ensuring the educational rights of the minority, with the goal that every child has access to high-quality education and equal opportunities for the future.
“The central objective of this policy is clear: to ensure that every minority child enjoys education of the highest possible quality, which will enable their full participation in society and equal opportunities for the future,” it characteristically states.
Invoking the Treaty of Lausanne
Athens points out that the Muslim minority is recognized as a religious minority based on the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923 and not on ethnic criteria, reiterating an established position of Greek diplomacy.
At the same time, it is emphasized that members of the minority enjoy all rights guaranteed by the Greek Constitution, European law, and international human rights conventions.
“Full rights and special protections”
The communication makes special reference to the guarantees provided in the areas of education, religion, and social life.
“Its members enjoy all rights guaranteed by the Constitution and European law, as well as special protections in the areas of education, religion, and social life,” it notes.
