ABTTF president holds talks in Brussels on Western Thrace Turkish minority rights

Halit Habipoğlu, president of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), held talks in Brussels with Marion Lalisse, the European Commission’s Coordinator on Combating Anti-Muslim Hatred, to raise concerns facing the Western Thrace Turkish Minority regarding freedom of religion and conscience.

Habipoğlu visited Brussels on Friday, September 11, accompanied by Deniz Servantie of the ABTTF Brussels Office.

Religious autonomy and hate speech discussed
During the meeting with Lalisse, Habipoğlu highlighted what he described as current problems affecting the Western Thrace Turkish Minority in the area of freedom of religion and conscience.

He said members of the minority are exposed to hate speech and attacks in Greek politics and the mainstream media.

Habipoğlu also raised the issue of muftis elected by the minority through their own free will not being recognized by the Greek state. He argued that the appointment of state-designated muftis instead undermines the minority’s religious autonomy.

Referring to Greece’s Law 4964/2022, Habipoğlu said the legislation had transformed the autonomous muftiates in Western Thrace into ordinary state offices, which he argued further restricted the minority’s religious autonomy.

Çınar Mosque case raised
Habipoğlu also brought up the case involving four members of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority who were prosecuted after protesting what he described as a provocation carried out during Friday prayers at Çınar Mosque in İskeçe (Xanthi).

According to Habipoğlu, the incident involved the then state-appointed deputy muftis of Gümülcine (Komotini), İskeçe (Xanthi) and Dimetoka (Didymoteicho).

The ABTTF president said the four minority members were unfairly sentenced to 17 months in prison over their reactions to the incident.