Muftis explained the religious situation of Western Thrace Turks at the panel in Tekirdag
Within the scope of the activities of the Union of Thracian Universities (TUB), the panel on 'Religious Situation of Western Thrace Turks in Bulgaria and Greece' was held at Tekirdağ Namik Kemal University (NKU).
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Şentop, 29th President of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey; Prof. Dr. Mümin Şahin and his wife Selda Şahin, Rector of Tekirdağ NKU and TUB Term President; Prof. Dr. Bülent Şengörür, Rector of Kırklareli University; Prof. Dr. Erhan Tabakoğlu, Rector of Trakya University; Prof. Dr. Celalettin Vatandaş, Prof. Dr. Celalettin Vatandaş, Prof. Dr. Gülsüm Özkan and Prof. Dr. Murat Taşan, wife of the late Dr. Sadık Ahmet, Işık Ahmet, Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif, Mufti of Xanthi Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif, Mufti of Xanthi Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif, Mufti of Xanthi Mustafa Trampa. Prof. Dr. Celalettin Vatandaş, Prof. Dr. Gülsüm Özkan and Prof. Dr. Murat Taşan, wife of the late Dr. Sadık Ahmet Işık Ahmet, Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif, Mufti of Xanthi Mustafa Trampa, President of the Bulgarian Supreme Islamic Council Vedat Ahmet, Tekirdağ NKU Senate Members, Deans of Faculties and School Directors, representatives of public institutions and organisations, academic and administrative staff and students.
Speaking at the ceremony, which started with a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Şentop, referring to the meaning and importance of the panel titled 'Religious Situation of Western Thrace Turks in Bulgaria and Greece', touched upon the history of the concept of 'Religion' and shared his thoughts on the religious situation of the Turks who remained in the region after the Ottoman withdrawal from the Balkans.
NKU Rector Prof. Dr. Mümin Şahin said: "Tekirdağ Namik Kemal University attaches a special importance to the Balkans and Western Thrace. We have approximately 2.300 international students at our university. Approximately 1000 of them come to our University from Balkan countries and Western Thrace. As a Balkan University, a Rumeli University and a member of the Union of Balkan Universities, this quota is increasing day by day. The Balkans and Rumelia are one of the regions where our compatriots live most densely. We will continue to further strengthen relations. For this reason, we attach great importance to the panel on 'Religious Situation of Western Thrace Turks in Bulgaria and Greece' organised within the scope of the Union of Thracian Universities, of which we are the Term President as Tekirdağ Namik Kemal University, and the Union of Thracian Universities is one of the most hardworking University unions of our country in terms of its activities."
Rector Prof. Dr. Şahin stated that the aim of the panel was to address the problems related to the situation of Western Thrace Turks in Bulgaria and Greece in all aspects and to offer solutions and concluded his words by saying "I would like to thank my speaker professors, moderator Prof. Dr. Halit EREN and everyone who contributed".
Prof. Dr. Bülent Şengörür, Rector of Kırklareli University, and Prof. Dr. Erhan Tabakoğlu, Rector of Trakya University, also delivered speeches and emphasised the benefits of the cooperation and close working environment provided by the Association of Thracian Universities among the universities in the region and expressed their satisfaction with this synergy spreading to the Balkans and Thrace.
After the opening speeches, under the moderation of Prof. Dr. Halit Eren, faculty member of NKU Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of History, Vedat Ahmet, President of the Supreme Islamic Council of Bulgaria, İbrahim Şerif, Mufti of Komotini and Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of Xanthi, shared comprehensive information on the religious situation of Western Thrace Turks in Bulgaria and Greece. The panel ended with a collective photo shoot.
