FUEN strongly condemns the attitude of the Greek authorities and expresses its strong support to the elected Mufti of Xanthi Ahmet Mete and elected Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif.

FUEN is deeply concerned that juridical investigations against representatives of the Turkish community in Western Thrace have revealed that there is an environment of political intimidation and pressure against it. FUEN has been informed by representatives of the Turkish community that the elected Mufti of Xanthi Ahmet Mete will stand trial on the charge of usurpation of the Office of Mufti in Thessaloniki on 20 June 2017. Similarly, the public prosecutor’s office has filed a suit against the elected Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif for usurpation of the Mufti Office.

A young person belonging to the Turkish community died while performing his military service in the Greek army. During the funeral ceremony in the village of Glafki (Gökçepınar) on 14 July 2016, the appointed Mufti of Xanthi, who is not recognized by Turkish community members, wanted to make the prayer at the funeral, but faced strong objection by the local community there. The people at the funeral wanted Ahmet Mete to make the prayer for the deceased young person. The Mufti appointed by the state left then the funeral. The public prosecutor’s office in Xanthi filed a suit against Ahmet Mete and the Imam of Glafki (Gökçepınar) for their actions during the funeral.

By command of the public prosecutor’s office, the elected Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif was invited to the police headquarters to take delivery of his court file on 16 March 2017. He is being accused of usurping the Mufti Office in Komotini.

We regret that the right of the Turkish community in Western Thrace to select its own religious leaders i.e. Muftis is still being usurped by the Greek government through the appointment of Muftis by the state since 1990. The Turkish community members reject the appointed muftis and elected Muftis as their religious leaders in Komotini and Xanthi. But, the Greek state does not recognize the Muftis who were elected by the Turkish community members. Even, the elected muftis were in the past prosecuted and sentenced to prison for the illegal use of religious symbols. 

The appointment of muftis by the Greek state is a clear intervention into religious autonomy of the Turkish community granted by international agreements. This attempt to divide the Turkish community in Western Thrace by the duality of elected and appointed muftis is a part of the governmental policy which aims to control religious leadership to increase its control over the entire community. 

FUEN reminds that the Eastern Orthodox Church as the prevailing religion, the Jewish Central Board or the Catholic and Protestant Church are free to elect its own religious leaders in Greece. 

FUEN asks the Greek authorities not to diminish by no means autonomous establishment of the Turkish community in accordance with Athens Treaty of 1913 and Its Third Protocol. FUEN condemns the attitude of the Greek authorities and expresses its strong support to the elected Mufti of Xanthi Ahmet Mete and elected Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif. In strong solidarity with the Turkish community, FUEN will continue to monitor the cases of Ahmet Mete and İbrahim Şerif, and will consider sending a delegation as observers to their trials.

Photo above: The elected Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif
Photo below: The elected Mufti of Xanthi Ahmet Mete