Murat Köse Head of the Çınar Mosque Trusteeship called to give statement to police
As part of an ongoing investigation launched by the Xanthi Police Department regarding an attempted provocation at the Çınar Mosque in Xanthi, Murat Köse, the head of the mosque's trusteeship, was called to provide a statement to the police on December 12, 2024.
The investigation pertains to an incident on October 11, 2024, when appointed mufti deputies, whom the Western Thrace Turkish Minority does not recognize, attempted to enter the mosque during Friday prayers. The congregation responded with protests such as “We will not pray with you,” “Our mufti is inside,” and “Do you not fear Allah? How will you answer to Allah?” forcing the appointed muftis to leave.
The incident occurred shortly after the opening ceremony of the Xanthi Madrassa, which was attended by Greece's General Secretary for Religious Affairs, Yorgos Kalancis.
Following the events, although the appointed muftis did not file an official complaint, a far-right member of parliament submitted an inquiry to the parliament, prompting the state to launch an investigation through the relevant authorities.
Previously, individuals such as Hüseyin Baltacı, president of the Western Thrace Minority Graduates Association, Ozan Ahmetoğlu, president of the Xanthi Turkish Union, and Bahri Belço, vice president of the FEP Party, were also summoned to the police to provide statements in connection with this investigation.
