INSICAM Magazine highlights Western Thrace struggle in August 2025 issue: “Our brothers right at our doorstep”
Turkish-based INSICAM, a leading publication focused on Islamic thought, culture, and civilization, has dedicated its August 2025 issue to the ongoing identity and rights struggle of the Turkish Muslim minority in Western Thrace, Greece. Titled “From Past to Present: The Struggle in Western Thrace”, the feature dossier aims to raise awareness about the region’s chronic socio-political and human rights issues.
“We Have Overlooked Western Thrace,” Editorial Notes
In the editorial preface, the magazine makes a critical self-assessment, stating:
“As Muslims in Turkey, we have often concerned ourselves with the plight of our brothers in distant regions – from Moro to Kashmir, from Afghanistan to Bosnia – yet we have neglected the oppression, injustice, and legal violations occurring in Western Thrace, right on our doorstep.”
Local Voices, Firsthand Testimonies
The dossier was curated by Cengiz Ömer, editor-in-chief of Millet Gazetesi, a Western Thrace-based Turkish newspaper. The contributors consist predominantly of writers, intellectuals, and activists from within the Western Thrace Turkish minority community, ensuring authentic, on-the-ground perspectives.
Key topics include:
- Systematic rights violations
- State-led assimilation efforts
- Restrictions on religious freedom and minority education
- Property and foundation rights
- Cultural resilience and identity preservation
Noteworthy Interviews and Articles
The issue features exclusive interviews and in-depth articles from leading figures in the region:
Key Interviews
Mustafa Trampa (Mufti of İskeçe, Chairman of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board):
“The Silent but Determined Struggle for Identity, Faith, and Dignity in Western Thrace”
(Interview by Cengiz Ömer)
İbrahim Şerif (Elected Mufti of Gümülcine):
“Discussing the Western Thrace Cause with Mufti İbrahim Şerif”
(Interview by Cemil Kabza)
Dr. Pervin Hayrullah (Director of BAKEŞ):
“On the Frontlines of Human Rights Advocacy”
(Interview by Cemil Kabza)
Ahmet Kara (Lawyer, İskeçe Bar Association):
“Legal Struggles of the Western Thrace Turks”
(Interview by Cemil Kabza)
Featured Articles and Contributors
Freedom of Expression and Press in Turkish: A Journey Through Western Thrace – Cengiz Ömer
The Historical and Cultural Heritage of Western Thrace Awaits You – Nihal Pakırdaşı
Turkishness, Pomak Identity, and Islam in Western Thrace and Türkiye – Salih Canbaz
Legal Status of the Minority: A Web of Gradual Treaty Violations – Seyit Kalenci
Turning Points in Greek-Turkish Relations and Their Impact on the Turkish Minority – Yakup Kurt
Minority Education in Western Thrace: A Right or a Security Threat? – Ozan Ahmetoğlu
Religion, Education, and Identity in Western Thrace – Muhammed Dükkancı
Restricted Religious Freedom and the Application of Islamic Law – Rıdvan Topçu
An Overview of Western Thrace Turkish Literature – Müberra Karadayı
Readings on Western Thrace – Harun Halil
Unopened Wings – Fatma Memet
The Western Side of Thrace – Mücahid Yıldız
A Call to Action for the Turkish Public
The magazine’s central message is clear: Western Thrace is not just a local concern, but a moral, historical, and strategic issue for Turkey. It calls on Turkish intellectual and political circles to keep the region’s plight on the national agenda, stressing that the identity, faith, and freedom struggles of the Turkish minority in Greece demand broader public support.
Support from Millet Gazetesi
In a public statement, Millet Gazetesi extended gratitude to all contributors and to INSICAM magazine:
“We thank all the writers and INSICAM for their dedication to this cause. Such publications play a crucial role in amplifying the voices of Western Thrace Turks, whose legal and human rights struggles are not just political, but also deeply ethical and humanitarian in nature.”
🔗 To read the full August 2025 Western Thrace special issue of INSICAM Magazine, visit:
https://insicam.net
