Halit Habip Oğlu: ‘As every year, we will prepare a report parallel to the U.S. report on Greece and convey the views of our community to the U.S. authorities with respect to our problems which have been described superficially, incompletely or incorrectly in the report’.
The 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom of the United States of America (USA) Department of State was released. In the report on Greece, U.S. did give some room regarding the Turkish community in Western Thrace with the expression of ‘Muslim minority of Thrace’ and the mufti issue along with other issues regarding religion.
Western Thrace Turks in the Report
While in the 2018 report, in reference to a study made by the Pew Research Centre, the population of the Turkish community in Western Thrace was evaluated at approximatively 100,000 people, in this year’s report, the U.S. gave reference to the 2011 sources from the Greek government with the number of 140,000.
Moreover, in the report which also indicates that the Muslim minority has the right to manage its own mosques and foundations through the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, it is explained that according to a law from 1991, the government is appointing three muftis with a period of 10 years in office in Thrace. The report which also indicates that according to the law, all the expenses of the mufti offices in the region are covered by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, notes that the mufti (appointed) has authority in the event that all parties have consent in the presence of a notary with respect to family matters issues stemming from traditional Islamic law with the expression of ‘sharia’ law, otherwise it was also indicated that it is the civil courts which are competent. The report, which mentions the law known as the 240 Imam Act, notes that the salaries of the three muftis appointed by the government and those assigned to give optional Islamic courses in public schools in the region are paid by the state. However, it is not mentioned that the Turkish community, by opposing the 240 Imam Act, does not want to be taught in Greek by people who do not have sufficient knowledge of Islam in public schools by muftis that are appointed in Western Thrace.
The report also notes that with respect to religious education which is comprised in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools, this education is more based on the teachers of the Greek Orthodox Church and that there are optional Islamic courses in public schools in Western Thrace. Furthermore, it is noted that according to the Treaty of Lausanne, the government is managing bilingual schools in Thrace and that there are two religious schools in the region. Indicating also the number of Turkish primary schools in the region, the report explains that with a decision dated 31 July 2019, the government decided to close 5 primary schools on the grounds of limited number of pupils and according to official data, a total of 50 primary schools were closed in the region in the period 2011-2019.
Moreover, the report also says that the government passed a law on 7 May 2019 which defines the archives of the religious communities and which obliges the registration of known religions and licensed houses of worship including the mufti offices that are appointed in Thrace along with the management of the foundations in Rhodes and Kos. The report also notes that the Turkish community in Western Thrace opposes the government- appointed muftis and requests to directly elect them instead and further adds that the government argues that on the grounds of the impossibility for judges to be elected according to the constitution, muftis that are appointed cannot be elected because of their legal competencies.
The report also states that the Presidential Decree of June 2019 restructured the functioning of the muftis that are appointed However, the objections of the Turkish community in Western Thrace on this issue are not included in the report.
In addition, with respect to the issue of the foundations, the report notes that the Turkish community in Western Thrace opposes the appointment by the government of the administrative committees of the charitable foundations i.e. vakfs. Furthermore, as a result of the absence of Muslim cemeteries outside of Thrace and that Muslims in the country are being buried in Western Thrace, the report adds that because of a problem of place, the mortal remains are being taken out of the graveyards in violation of Islamic traditions.
The report which also details about hate attacks against religious groups under the heading of Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedoms, notes that religion and ethnic identity are intertwined in most cases, rendering it difficult to distinguish attacks solely motivated on religion. Moreover, the report refers to an attack perpetrated on the Muslim cemetery in Alexandroupoli on 28 May 2019 and that the perpetrators of the attack have yet not been caught.
Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), made the following statement: “In the U.S. report on Greece, we see that the problems of the Turkish community in Western Thrace are partially addressed. Compared to last year, one can assess as a positive step for the United States to take a more balanced approach by taking into account some of the criticisms of the community instead of repeating the government’s official position with respect to the issues regarding religion of the Turkish community in Western Thrace. However, we do also see that the opinions and criticisms of our community regarding the Presidential Decree of 2019 which is a major development are not included. As every year, we will prepare a report parallel to this report and convey the views of our community to the U.S. authorities with respect to our problems which have been described superficially, incompletely or incorrectly in the report”.
Please click here for the U.S. 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom on Greece: https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GREECE-2019-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM-REPORT.pdf
