Ruling in vandalized Horozlu Cemetery Case: “Historic atrocity” officially acknowledged
A court in Xanthi (İskeçe) issued its ruling today in the case concerning the destruction of the Muslim Turkish cemetery in the village of Horozlu, an incident that deeply shocked the Turkish minority of Western Thrace.
The case relates to the leveling of the historic cemetery in 2022 using heavy machinery belonging to the Municipality of Avdira (Bulustra). In today’s hearing, four defendants stood trial. Three were acquitted, while the deputy mayor responsible for sanitation services was sentenced to nine months in prison. The sentence was suspended for two years.
İskeçe MP Hüseyin Zeybek attended the hearing in person, submitting evidence to the court and testifying during the proceedings. MP Burhan Baran was unable to attend due to parliamentary duties in Athens but stated that his advisers closely followed the trial.
The hearing was also observed by Mustafa Trampa, President of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board and Mufti of İskeçe.
“We will continue to pursue this violation of conscience”
Following the verdict, Mustafa Trampa said in a statement:
“The court has announced its decision in the case concerning the plundering of the historic cemetery in Horozlu village. A nine-month prison sentence was handed down to the deputy mayor. The destruction of a historic cemetery with municipal machinery has caused deep wounds in the public conscience. We will continue to follow this case and to protect our memory and our sacred sites.”
Zeybek: Real perpetrators protected, sentence symbolic
MP Hüseyin Zeybek criticized the ruling in a written statement, saying:
“In the case concerning the destruction of the historic cemetery in Horozlu (Petino), the court has announced its decision. Of the four defendants, three were acquitted, while only the deputy mayor responsible for sanitation was given a symbolic nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. No sanctions were imposed on those truly responsible for the demolition. The destruction of a historic cemetery with heavy machinery has deeply wounded the public conscience, and this decision has failed to satisfy the sense of justice. We will continue to pursue this case and to protect our memory and sacred places.”
Baran: Court officially recognized a historic atrocity
MP Burhan Baran also issued a statement after the ruling:
“In 2022, the Municipality of Avdira (Bulustra), to which our village of Horozlu belongs, entered our historic cemetery with bulldozers, causing massive destruction and completely wiping out our burial grounds. At the time, MP Hüseyin Zeybek and I filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor. After several postponements, the case was finally heard today.
Although I could not attend in person due to parliamentary work in Athens, my advisers followed the hearing closely. In the trial of four defendants, the deputy mayor responsible for sanitation was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, for his role in the destruction of our historic cemetery.
This decision may not fully satisfy consciences. The destroyed history, the gravestones of our ancestors, and our inherited heritage will not return. However, the most important point is this: the court has officially acknowledged that history was destroyed here, that cemeteries were desecrated, and that the cultural heritage of a minority was eliminated. Even though only one of the four defendants was punished, the judiciary has recognized this act as a historic atrocity.”
Background
On March 16, 2022, municipal machinery belonging to the Municipality of Avdira entered the historic Muslim Turkish cemetery in Horozlu village and completely destroyed the site. It later emerged that the municipality planned to replace the cemetery with a children’s playground and sports facilities. The move sparked strong reactions from both Muslim Turkish and Christian Greek local council members.
Following the destruction, MPs Burhan Baran and Hüseyin Zeybek filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor. The incident caused widespread outrage across Western Thrace, while the trial was postponed several times over the years.
While today’s ruling is seen by the Western Thrace Turkish Minority as an official acknowledgment of the destruction, it has also fallen short of fully meeting expectations of justice. Political and religious representatives stressed that they will continue to monitor the case and defend the minority’s cultural heritage.
