Court ruling in İskeçe mosque case sentences trustee board president to suspended prison term
SENTENCE OVER MOSQUE CONVERSION CASE IN KÜÇÜK DAVUTLU
A Greek court has sentenced Hasan Akifoğlu, the president of the trustee board of Küçük Davutlu Mosque, to a suspended nine-month prison term over the unauthorized conversion of a former village school into a mosque. The case, which has drawn public attention across Western Thrace, concluded this week in İskeçe (Xanthi), one of the key centers of the Turkish minority in the region.
The controversy began in 2021 following a complaint filed by the Urban Planning Directorate, which alleged that the old school building—located on the same plot of land as the mosque—had been converted into a place of worship without the required permits. In addition to the change of use, a minaret and a pergola had reportedly been constructed without authorization. The incident prompted the imposition of an administrative fine of approximately €104,000, and legal proceedings were initiated.
POLITICAL REACTION AND ONGOING LEGAL STEPS
Reacting to the verdict, İskeçe MP Dr. Burhan Baran emphasized the importance of protecting community foundation properties, calling it a "red line." He also announced that the case will be appealed to a higher court.
“From my very first day as an MP, the preservation of ancestral foundation properties has been a non-negotiable priority for me,” Baran said. “The legal process concerning the Davutlu (Timbano) Mosque, which has been ongoing for nearly six years, has now reached a conclusion. The allegation centered around a structure long used as a mosque, which was claimed to be a former village school converted without permission.”
Baran noted that during a 2022 visit to the site, along with trustee board members and local journalists, it was observed that the school had been inactive for a long time due to a lack of students, with desks and classroom setups still intact.
According to the defense presented in court, the entrances to the mosque and the school are entirely separate, and there is no physical connection between the two buildings. Despite this, the court still handed down a suspended prison sentence to Akifoğlu. This decision aligns with an ongoing administrative fine of €120,000, which remains under appeal.
Baran, in consultation with legal advisor Ahmet Kara, confirmed that the ruling will be challenged. He also issued a call to Greek authorities, urging them to recognize the cultural and historical significance of such properties.
“We hope that the Greek state adopts a more constructive and fair stance on matters concerning our shared cultural heritage,” Baran said. “Our determination to protect these ancestral foundation properties will remain unwavering under all circumstances.”
