Mufti Mustafa Trampa: “The mufti issue is a result of lawlessness”
Mustafa Trampa, Chairman of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board, has described the long-standing mufti dispute in Western Thrace as a “clear case of lawlessness,” accusing Greece of failing to meet its international legal obligations.
Speaking in an interview with ÜLKÜ newspaper, Trampa argued that recent legislative changes have undermined the autonomy of the mufti institution and disregarded the will of the Turkish minority.
“International Agreements Are Being Ignored”
Trampa stated that the demands of the Turkish minority are firmly rooted in international law, pointing specifically to the Treaty of Athens, the Treaty of Lausanne, and Greece’s own legal framework.
“Greece is ignoring these agreements and violating them,” he said, adding that the latest mufti law effectively reduces the institution to an ordinary state office, stripping it of its autonomy and institutional credibility.
Criticism of Appointment Process
Referring to recent developments in Dimetoka, Trampa claimed that what was presented as an electoral process for selecting a mufti was, in reality, a state appointment lacking democratic legitimacy.
“The method does not reflect the will of the minority and cannot be considered lawful or democratic,” he said, warning that similar processes may soon be implemented in İskeçe and Gümülcine
According to Trampa, such policies deepen mistrust between the state and the minority community while exacerbating existing tensions.
Reciprocity and Minority Rights
Trampa also emphasized the principle of reciprocity under the Lausanne framework, arguing that the rights granted to the Greek Orthodox minority in Istanbul should be equally afforded to the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.
“The rights of the Turkish minority here must be equivalent to those of the Greek minority in Istanbul—this is an undeniable reality,” he said.
He pointed out that the Greek minority in Türkiye is allowed to manage its own religious, educational, and charitable institutions, as well as openly express its ethnic identity. “We expect the same rights in return, as guaranteed under international law,” he added.
Call for Equal Treatment
Trampa concluded by stressing that the demands of the Western Thrace Turkish minority are neither excessive nor political, but based on fundamental legal principles and internationally recognized rights.
As the mufti issue continues to evolve, his remarks highlight ongoing disputes over religious autonomy, minority rights, and the interpretation of bilateral agreements between Greece and Türkiye.
