Çınar Camii appeal hearing set for December 1
The appeal hearing in the Çınar Camii case in İskeçe (Xanthi) has been scheduled for December 1, 2026, following the 17-month prison sentences handed down to four representatives of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority.
The appeal against the first-instance ruling involving Hüseyin Baltacı, Ozan Ahmetoğlu, Bahri Belço and Murat Köse will be heard at the Court of Appeal at the İskeçe Courthouse. Hearing notices have begun reaching the four defendants and witnesses in the case.
The four defendants appealed the June 18 ruling, under which each was sentenced to 17 months in prison. The sentences were convertible into fines. The ruling followed a hearing that lasted approximately 14 hours.
FIRST-INSTANCE COURT HANDED DOWN 17-MONTH SENTENCES
The case concerns events at Çınar Camii in İskeçe (Xanthi) on October 11, 2024, shortly before Friday prayers.
The first hearing was held at the İskeçe Courthouse on March 27, 2026, and was initially adjourned to June 5. Following a further postponement at the request of the parties, the case was heard on June 18 and concluded with the court's ruling.
The defendants were Baltacı, then president of the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association; Ahmetoğlu, then president of the İskeçe Turkish Union; Belço, deputy leader of the Friendship Equality Peace (DEB) Party; and Köse, president of the Çınar Camii Board of Trustees. Previous reporting on the ruling stated that the court convicted the four in connection with the incident and imposed 17-month prison sentences that could be converted into fines.
The four defendants subsequently appealed the ruling, taking the case to the higher court. In a joint statement issued after the June ruling, they said they would continue their legal challenge through the appeals process.
DISPUTE OVER APPOINTED MUFTIS
The case stems from an incident on October 11, 2024, when muftis appointed by Greek authorities for Gümülcine (Komotini), İskeçe (Xanthi) and Dimetoka (Didymoteicho) sought to attend Friday prayers at Çınar Camii after an opening ceremony at the new building of the İskeçe Religious School.
According to reports from the time, some members of the congregation objected to the presence of the appointed muftis, whom the Western Thrace Turkish community does not recognize, and called on them to remove their religious headwear and robes. Tensions followed, and the appointed muftis eventually left the mosque, after which Friday prayers continued.
The subsequent investigation led to charges against Baltacı, Ahmetoğlu, Belço and Köse.
APPEAL HEARING TO TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER 1
The appeal process following the June 18 judgment will continue with the hearing at the İskeçe Courthouse on December 1.
The case has attracted sustained attention from institutions and representatives of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority. The defendants have maintained that they did not use violence or force during the October 2024 incident and that their objections were expressed through peaceful and democratic means. Those statements represent the defendants' position and are subject to the outcome of the ongoing judicial process.
