Mufti Trampa calls for comprehensive academic work on the Balkans
The Mufti of İskeçe, Mustafa Trampa, has proposed the establishment of a “Balkan Research Center” in the Turkish city of Edirne to promote comprehensive and systematic academic studies focused on the Balkans.
Speaking at the “Under Our Sky: Meeting of Balkan Scholars II” program held in Edirne, Trampa emphasized the need for a specialized institution that would consolidate research on Balkan history, culture, and society.
In his address, Mufti Trampa noted that although there are many academic articles about Western Thrace, there is still a shortage of published books and in-depth studies on the region.
“While it is pleasing to see more publications emerging in recent years, we still need more comprehensive and structured research,” Trampa said.
Proposing the creation of a research center modeled after Istanbul’s Center for Islamic Studies (İSAM), he explained:
“My suggestion is to establish a ‘Balkan Research Center’ in Edirne, similar to İSAM in Istanbul. Although Trakya University already has a related unit, this one should have a broader and more inclusive scope. The goal should be to reassess and digitize the entire body of literature on the Balkans, ensuring its preservation and accessibility. Researchers from each Balkan country could contribute—because living an experience and writing about it differs greatly from learning it from books.”
Trampa added that such an initiative, supported by Türkiye, would make a lasting contribution to Balkan studies and foster deeper cooperation among scholars in the region.
“If we can establish such an institution, it would allow researchers from all Balkan nations to work together under one roof. With the support of our motherland, we could create a valuable legacy for the future of the Balkans,” he said.
