Association of Turks in Greece's Western Thrace region backs 4 on trial in mosque case

Federation head says Turkish minority in Western Thrace stands firmly behind defendants, citing religious freedom, rights under treaties

The head of an association of Turks in Greece’s Western Thrace region voiced support for four members of the minority standing trial over an incident in which state-appointed muftis were stopped from entering a mosque, as they did not represent the local community. In a statement, Halit Habipoglu, head of the head of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe, said legal proceedings had been launched against the four individuals following the incident at the Cinar Mosque in the city of Xanthi, stressing that they have the “full support” of the minority community. Greece’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and worship, he said, stressing that the Western Thrace Turkish community holds rights stemming from international agreements. Habipoglu also underlined that the 1913 Treaty of Athens and the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne – which has neighboring Türkiye as a signatory – ensure religious autonomy, but said subsequent legal arrangements have restricted the community’s right to elect its own muftis. Criticizing the case, Habipoglu said the rights of the Western Thrace Turkish community have been violated. To the four defendants, he said: “You are not alone; you have a community of 150,000 standing behind you.” Following the opening ceremony of the Xanthi Madrasa (school) on Oct. 11, 2024, attended by Greek Education and Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary-General Yorgos Kalancis, state-appointed muftis tried to perform Friday prayers with the congregation at Cinar Mosque but were prevented from entering by members of the minority. In Greece, the religious leaders of the Western Thrace Turkish minority, including muftis and the administrative boards of minority foundations, are appointed by the state. The Turkish minority opposes this practice, calling instead for the recognition of muftis elected by the community. The Turkish community in Western Thrace has long complained of oppression by Greek officials, from refusing to recognize groups with the word “Turkish” in their title, to the closing of local schools, to letting historic Ottoman buildings fall into disrepair.