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Mufti of Xanthi Ahmet Mete is sentenced to 15 months in prison

18.06.2021

ABTTF President: “As ABTTF representing the Western Thrace Turks living in Europe, we condemn in the strongest terms this unjust prison sentence decision given by the court against our esteemed mufti Ahmet Mete, and call on our country to immediately cease its oppressive practices against our muftis and respect our religious freedom.”

The Mufti of Xanthi Ahmet Mete elected by the Turkish community in Western Thrace was sentenced to 15 months in prison in the trial at the Thessaloniki Single Judge Civil Court of First Instance. 

Mufti Mete was indicted on charges of disturbing public order by sowing discord in the society for comparing the then head of the Friendship, Equality and Peace (FEP) Party to Rauf Denktaş during a speech at the FEP Party’s Congress in Komotini in 2016. At a hearing on 17 June 2021, the execution of a 15-month prison sentence against Mufti Mete was postponed by 3 years. Mufti Mete appealed the court’s decision, and the case was moved to a higher court.

“As ABTTF representing the Western Thrace Turks living in Europe, we condemn in the strongest terms this unjust prison sentence decision given by the court against our esteemed mufti Ahmet Mete, wish our mufti well and want it to be known that we are always at his side. Although there is no need for criminal sanctions, the court’s decision is a new example of the increasing legal pressure and intimidation against our elected muftis in Greece in recent years. We call on our country to immediately cease its oppressive practices against our muftis and respect our religious freedom. We hope that this unjust decision will be overturned by the higher court and that justice will be served”, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).

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