Mustafa Hilmi Aga Community Pioneers Awards found their owners
In the award ceremony organised by the Mufti's Office of Xanthi, 5 people were awarded the late Mufti Mustafa Hilmi Aga Community Pioneers Award this year. An incentive award was also given.
At the ceremony, which was organised for the second time this year, the awards were presented to Musa Vidinli, former deputy governor, in the field of politics; Hafiz Mehmet Emin Tevfikoğlu, who served for many years in the Muftiate of Xanthi, in the field of Religious Education; and retired Physical Education Teacher Ziya Hacı Salihoğlu, one of the first teachers of Xanthi Muzaffer Salihoğlu Minority Secondary School and High School, in the field of Education, In the field of Culture and Arts, Lütfiye Nihatoğlu, who has been working for many years in the courses of Batik-Sewing-Apbroidery operating within the body of Xanthi Turkish Union, and in the field of Civil Society, Ozan Ahmetoğlu, the President of Xanthi Turkish Union, which is the symbol of the Western Thrace Turks with its 40 years of struggle for rights, were awarded. In addition, the incentive award, which was deemed worthy of the Young Academics Community operating within WTMUGA, was given to Burak Adil on behalf of GAT.
Rıdvan Topçu, Director of the Religious Services Branch of the Muftiate of Xanthi, was the presenter of the programme which was held in the Cultural Centre of WTMUGA Xanthi on Saturday evening, 16 December.
The programme started with the recitation of the Qur'an by Onur Shah, Imam of Masjid-i Atik Mosque. Afterwards, Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of Xanthi made his opening speech. In his speech, Mufti Trampa touched upon the activities of the Muftiate community and especially the educational activities. Mufti Trampa stated that they chose the theme of Education for this year's programme and that they wanted to draw attention to the problems experienced by Western Thrace Turks in the field of education.
After Mufti of Xanthi Mustafa Trampa, Turkish Consul General in Komotini Subutay Koç thanked everyone who contributed to the programme and conveyed the greetings of Consul General Aykut Ünal.
Since the main theme of this year's event was "Education in Western Thrace", a cinevision show reflecting the educational problems of the Western Thrace Turks was presented first. In order to listen to education, which is the bleeding wound of the Muslim Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, from the experts, a panel discussion was held under the moderation of Serdar Küçük, one of the young preachers. Lawyer Ahmet Kara, President of the Union of Western Thrace Minority School Councillors and Journalist Ozan Ahmetoğlu, President of the Xanthi Turkish Union took part as speakers in the panel discussion. After the panel discussion, musician Özcan Kalfa presented excerpts from Turkish Folk Music. After the Turkish Folk Music concert, the award ceremony took place.
In addition to Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of Xanthi, the event was attended by Vice Consul Subutay Koç representing the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye, FEP Party President Çiğdem Asafoğlu, newly elected Mayor of Mustafçova Ahmet Kurt, who will take over the office at the beginning of the year, Deputy Mayor of Inhanlı (Topiros) Sunay Hüseyinoğlu, State and Municipal Council Members, President of the Xanthi Turkish Union Ozan Ahmetoğlu, President of the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association Dr. Hüseyin Baltacı and Lawyer Ahmet Kara, President of the Association of Western Thrace Minority School Councillors. Despite the weather opposition, there was an intense participation from the religious officials of the Muftiate of Xanthi and the public.
