As ABTTF, we underline that the law dated 29 July 2022, which aims to completely eliminate our religious autonomy, is null and void for the Turkish community in Western Thrace, and we call on our country to comply with the treaties to which it is a party regulating our religious autonomy and to immediately end its unilateral practices on the mufti issue.
With the decision signed by the Greek Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Niki Kerameus, the term of office of the state-appointed mufti regents in Komotini and Xanthi was extended.
According to the said decision, the terms of office of appointed Mufti Regent Cihat Halil in Komotini and appointed Mufti Regent Necdet Hemşeri in Xanthi were extended for another six months.
The Presidium of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), the representative of the Western Thrace Turks living in Europe delivered the following statement: “By extending the term of office of the appointed mufti regents, our country has once again ignored the religious autonomy of the Turkish community in Western Thrace, which was determined by the 1913 Treaty of Athens and guaranteed by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. Since 1990, our country has been violating our right to elect our own religious leaders, our muftis, which is guaranteed by the treaties, through various practices and laws. Lately, with the new law under the title of ‘‘Modernisation of Mufti Offices in Thrace’’ adopted by the parliament on 29 July 2022, immediately after the death of our Mufti of Xanthi Ahmet Mete, the overarching aim is for the state to establish full control and audit over our mufti offices that have the autonomous structure and thus completely eliminate our religious autonomy. As ABTTF, we once again underline that the relevant law is null and void for the Turkish community in Western Thrace, and we call on our country to comply with the treaties to which it is a party regulating our religious autonomy and to immediately put an end to its unilateral practices on the mufti issue”.
