Law creating “minority within a minority” passed in Greek Parliament
A controversial bill recognizing Bektashi-Alevi members of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority as a separate legal entity was debated and passed in the Greek Parliament yesterday (Thursday, July 31).
The newly adopted law grants the Bektashi-Alevi community private legal personality and establishes a distinct religious-administrative structure. Under the new framework, a religious community will be formed with its headquarters in the village of Rushenler, located in the Evros (Meriç) region. Consequently, Bektashi-Alevi members will no longer fall under the jurisdiction of existing mufti offices in Western Thrace.
Additionally, the law calls for the creation of an independent foundation body, the Thrace Alevi Foundations Administrative Committee, to oversee places of worship and religious properties.
Zeybek and Ferhat Voice Opposition
Turkish Minority MPs Hüseyin Zeybek and Özgür Ferhat criticized the legislation during parliamentary debate. In contrast, PASOK MP Ilhan Ahmet expressed support for the bill, which has stirred deep controversy among the Western Thrace Turkish community, as it is seen as institutionalizing sectarian division.
"A Move to Legitimize Division Within the Minority"
Drafted by the Greek Ministry of Education, the bill has been criticized for dividing the Western Thrace Turkish Minority along sectarian lines. While the government claims the law ensures religious freedom, critics argue that it undermines the collective identity of the minority.
Minority institutions and representatives maintain that the law serves to fragment the community under the guise of religious freedom, ultimately weakening their collective representation and identity.
"Not Religious Freedom, But Political Engineering"
Critics from within the minority say the legislation goes beyond recognizing the rights of Alevi-Bektashis, interpreting it instead as an attempt to separate them from the broader Muslim Turkish identity. Many assert that the Greek state has historically avoided acknowledging the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority as a unified entity, opting instead to create fragmented, controllable structures.
A Parallel to the Mufti System?
The new law introduces a religious structure outside the existing mufti system, raising concerns about potential jurisdictional conflicts among religious authorities in Western Thrace. The status of the newly formed Alevi foundation committee may clash with the powers and legitimacy of elected muftis, leading to further complications in the region’s religious governance.
