Kinsmen gather at historic Seçek Festival
Western Thrace Turkish Minority Revives Seven-Century-Old Tradition with Seçek Oil Wrestling and Cultural Events
Western Thrace, August 3, 2025 — The Turkish minority of Western Thrace, who have preserved their ancestral customs and traditions for over seven centuries, came together to celebrate the historic Seçek Oil Wrestling and Cultural Festival at the Mehrikoz football field.
Organized by the Seçek Minority Education and Cultural Association, the three-day event commenced on August 1 with a religious Mevlid-i Şerif ceremony, followed by Friday prayers and a communal meal hosted by the 2025 Seçek Festival Agha, Ali Koç. The day concluded with a borek (pastry) competition and a tea gathering.
The second day featured the Agha’s ceremonial procession to the wrestling arena accompanied by drums and zurnas (traditional wind instruments), greeting attendees before the preliminary oil wrestling matches began. Children participated in various contests, and the popular children’s theatre group “RAFADAN TAYFA” performed. The day ended with concerts by local favorite “GRUP BESTAR BAND” and renowned Turkish singer Elif Buse Doğan.
Sunday’s program opened with the ceremonial reception of invited officials to the arena, followed by speeches.
Key Speeches Highlight Unity and Tradition
Necmettin Kahya, President of the Seçek Minority Education and Cultural Association, welcomed attendees and led a moment of silence in memory of fallen heroes and martyrs. He thanked the organizing team and condemned a recently passed law granting separate legal status to the Alevi-Bektashi subgroup within the minority, viewing it as a divisive attempt against the historically unified Western Thrace Muslim Turkish minority.
Agha Ali Koç expressed gratitude for the community’s support during his year-long service and wished success and safety to all wrestlers.
Kozlukebir Mayor Erdem Hüseyin emphasized the importance of preserving the minority’s religion, language, and traditions as pillars of identity and unity, noting the spiritual and cultural heritage linked to historic figures such as Ahmet Yesevi and Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli.
Hasan Küçük, Chair of the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association, reflected on Seçek’s significance as a cultural and historical symbol uniting the community for centuries. He refuted recent claims portraying Bektashism as a separate religion, affirming its deep roots within Islam and regional tradition. He stressed the community’s commitment to maintaining language, faith, customs, and solidarity as the foundation of its survival.
Mustafa Trampa, Chair of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board and Mufti of Xanthi, connected the festival’s spiritual roots to prominent figures such as Seyyid Ali Sultan and Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli, praising the efforts of the Seçek Cultural Association and community elders.
Rodopi MP Özgür Ferhat praised the event as a testament to unity and resilience, condemning recent legislative attempts to fragment the minority. He called for open dialogue and protection of minority rights, emphasizing the community’s determination to preserve its cultural and religious freedoms.
The Seçek Oil Wrestling and Cultural Festival remains a vital expression of identity and unity for the Western Thrace Turkish minority, preserving a legacy that spans seven centuries and continues to inspire future generations.
