ABTTF criticises mufti appointments in Western Thrace, calls for recognition of elected religious leaders
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) has criticised the appointment of muftis in Gümülcine and İskeçe on October 21, saying the decisions disregard the will of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace. The federation’s president, Halit Habipoğlu, called on Greece to officially recognise the minority’s elected muftis, İbrahim Şerif and Mustafa Trampa.
In a statement issued on October 23, ABTTF said the latest appointments followed the appointment of Emin Şerif as mufti of Didymoteicho on January 9, 2026. It argued that all three mufti offices in Dimetoka, Gümülcine and İskeçe had now come under state-appointed leadership under Greek Law No. 4964, adopted in 2022.
According to ABTTF, the legislation placed the mufti offices under the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports as public institutions.
ABTTF QUESTIONS RELIGIOUS AUTONOMY
Habipoğlu said the appointment system failed to respect the minority’s right to determine its own religious leadership. He contrasted the system applied to the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace with the arrangements for other religious communities in Greece.
“While Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Protestants and Jews in our country have the right to determine their own religious leaders, only the muftis of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace are appointed by the state,” Habipoğlu said, according to the statement.
He also argued that the state had restricted the minority’s ability to choose its religious leaders since 1991 and that the 2022 legislation had further institutionalised state control over the mufti offices.
Habipoğlu maintained that the minority’s religious autonomy was protected by international treaties and described the appointment system as discriminatory.
CALL FOR RECOGNITION OF ELECTED MUFTIS
ABTTF said it would not accept what it considers a violation of the minority’s religious autonomy. The federation called on the Greek government to end the current practice, restore the minority’s religious autonomy and officially recognise İbrahim Şerif, elected mufti of Komotini, and Mustafa Trampa, elected mufti of İskeçe.
The statement reflects ABTTF’s position on the appointments. The Greek government’s response was not included in the material provided.
