ABTTF condemns appointment of new mufti in Dimetoka, citing violation of religious autonomy
ABTTF President Halit Habip Oğlu reacted sharply to the appointment carried out by Greece’s Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, stating that the move represents a clear violation of internationally guaranteed minority rights.
Government Defends Appointment Under 2022 Law
According to a report published by the news outlet NewsFire, the appointment was made under Law No. 4964/2022, which the government claims replaces decades of direct appointments with a more transparent, merit-based, and participatory framework for selecting muftis.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also addressed the issue in his weekly briefing, asserting that the 2022 legal framework governing the operation of mufti offices was being implemented in practice for the first time and that the process fully complies with the Greek Constitution, the Treaty of Lausanne, and European law.
Strong Reaction from Minority Representatives
However, the appointment has sparked strong backlash from representatives of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace. On January 26, 2026, Mustafa Trampa, President of the Consultative Committee of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace (CCTMTW) and Mufti of İskeçe, held a press conference with committee members, firmly rejecting the appointment.
Trampa stressed that the selection of a mufti cannot be treated as a mere administrative act, but rather concerns the internationally recognized right of the Turkish community to elect its own religious leaders. He emphasized that the issue is not only religious, but also a matter of democracy and representation.
“Our expectation from the Greek state is dialogue, not confrontation; consultation, not imposition,” Trampa said, adding that the Turkish community of Western Thrace possesses the maturity and will to choose its own religious leadership.
ABTTF: “Our Religious Autonomy Is Being Openly Violated”
In his statement, ABTTF President Halit Habip Oğlu underlined the international legal foundations of the community’s claims:
“Religious autonomy was granted to our community under the 1913 Treaty of Athens and guaranteed by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. Claims by Prime Minister Mitsotakis and mainstream Greek media that this appointment complies with the Treaty of Lausanne are entirely false.”
Habip Oğlu noted that while the Greek Orthodox Church and the Jewish community in Greece enjoy full religious autonomy and manage their internal affairs without state interference, the Turkish minority continues to face direct intervention.
“All recognized religions in this country are autonomous—except us. The appointment of a mufti by the state constitutes the seizure of a right guaranteed by international treaties. As the Turkish community of Western Thrace, we will never allow our religious autonomy to be completely abolished.”
