General Assembly of Xanthi Turkish Union convened

The General Assembly of the Xanthi Turkish Union (ITB) took place on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the ITB headquarters. During the session, elections were held for the new Administrative and Supervisory Boards.

The meeting commenced with the election of the presiding committee. Mehmet Hacıhalil was elected as the chairperson, while Merve Kara and Binnur Osmanoğlu assumed the roles of secretaries. A total of 377 members cast their votes during the assembly.

A minute of silence was observed to honor the memory of deceased administrators of the ITB and the leaders of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority.

Following the establishment of the presiding committee, the assembly moved to the greeting speeches. Among the speakers were Hüseyin Baltacı, President of the Western Thrace Minority Higher Education Association (BTTÖB), Çiğdem Asafoğlu, President of the Friendship, Equality, Peace (FEP) Party, MPs of Xanthi Burhan Baran and Hüseyin Zeybek, Mayor of Mustafçova Ahmet Kurt, and President of the Consultative Committee of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace and Mufti of Xanthi Mustafa Trampa.

ITB President Ozan Ahmetoğlu then presented the activity report, outlining the work carried out over the past year and addressing the ongoing challenges faced by the Turkish community of Western Thrace. Ahmetoğlu also provided updates regarding ITB’s continued legal struggle for rights recognition. Subsequently, Murat Sebahattinoğlu presented the audit report on behalf of the Supervisory Board.

During the suggestions and criticisms section, Burhan Baran, Fikri İhtiyar, and Murat Sebahattinoğlu shared their opinions and recommendations. Later, ITB Educational Consultant and Youth Branch Supervisor Önder Şabanoğlu delivered a speech, thanking President Ahmetoğlu for his support to the youth and presenting a gift alongside the Youth Branch administrators.

The outgoing administration was then formally discharged. Elections for the new Administrative and Supervisory Boards followed, with the voting process continuing until 17:30. A total of 377 members participated in the voting.

Election Results (alphabetical order):

Administrative Board:

Aydın Cambaz – 214 votes

İpek Salihoglu – 203 votes

İsmet Tüccar – 243 votes

Kerem Abdurahimoğlu – 226 votes

Seher Ahmet – 192 votes

Selin Delioğlu – 97 votes

Seval Alidayı – 122 votes

Zeynur Bargan – 171 votes

Supervisory Board:

Aysun Kara – 177 votes

Hamza Karadayı – 240 votes

Murat Sebahattinoğlu – 221 votes