Kalantzis continues to intimidate the Muslim Turkish Community of Western Thrace
Yorgos Kalancis, the “unchanging” Secretary General of Religious Affairs in Greece's Ministry of Education, persists in intimidating the Muslim Turkish community in Western Thrace with his statements and timing.
On Wednesday, Kalancis visited the Mufti of Gümülcine, whom he appointed, and made supportive remarks regarding him. This visit coincided with Deputy Minister of Citizen Protection Andreas Nikolakopoulos's parliamentary response announcing the launch of an investigation into the events at the Çınar Mosque in İskeçe on October 30.
After his visit to the appointed mufti, Kalancis did not shy away from delivering messages regarding the situation from Gümülcine. Speaking to journalists afterward, he stated that the perpetrators of the incident would be assessed by the judiciary, but he characterized those who attacked the mufti as “citizens engaging in political activism against a person dedicated to God and unrelated to religion.”
Kalancis condemned the “attack,” asserting, “When a person wishes to pray in a public space such as a mosque, church, or synagogue, they certainly have the right to do so, and no one can take that right away from them.” However, while claiming that the incident would be evaluated by the judiciary, he simultaneously entered into dialogues regarding the appointed mufti and labeled dissenters as “perpetrators” and “attackers,” preemptively judging them and thereby sending a message of intimidation to the minority.
Kalancis's choice of timing for his visit to the appointed mufti has raised eyebrows, particularly following the incident at the Çınar Mosque. His actions suggest an attempt to provoke a serious question mark over the fragile trust being cultivated between Turkey and Greece.
It is noteworthy that on October 11, following the opening ceremony of the İskeçe Madrasa, which was relocated at a cost of 500,000 euros from the state budget, the unrecognized deputies of the appointed mufti attempted to enter the Çınar Mosque immediately afterward. They were met with resistance from the mosque congregation and minority institution leaders, who told them, “Our mufti is inside,” and “Take off your mufti attire and pray like that,” insisting that they not disrupt the mosque.
A series of dialogues ensued between the mufti deputy of Gümülcine, Cihat Halil, and his compatriots, as Halil refused to take off his robe and turban to pray, opting instead to pray on a prayer rug outside the mosque. Meanwhile, two other appointed individuals left the mosque well before Halil.
