Trial of Ilıca Mosque attacker postponed
The trial of Alen Granz, a Bulgarian-born French passport holder accused of vandalizing a mosque in Ilıca, Xanthi, on June 15, 2023, has been postponed. Scheduled to be held on Monday, December 2, at the Komotini Courthouse, the trial was delayed to June 17, 2025, due to the defendant's absence.
Granz allegedly entered the mosque in the Kaplıcalar area of Ilıca, causing significant damage and tearing copies of the Quran. Following complaints filed by Ilıca Trusteeship Chairman Eyüp Köse and other members, Granz was initially tried on July 4, 2023, at the Xanthi First Instance Court, where he was sentenced to two years in prison.
After appealing the sentence, Granz's retrial was set for December 2, 2024. Eyüp Köse and former Ilıca Subdistrict Director Hasan Nazır were present in court as witnesses.
The trial also drew the attention of local religious leaders, including Xanthi Mufti Mustafa Trampa, Deputy Mufti Ahmet Hraloğlu, and other representatives. Mufti Trampa expressed gratitude to Köse and Nazır for their dedication in pursuing justice since the attack.
