Western Thrace Turks flock to Charity Fair at İskeçe Çınar Mosque

The Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace showed strong support for the “Charity Fair” organized jointly by the İskeçe Mufti’s Office and the İskeçe Association of Religious Officials on September 5–6. The event took place in the courtyard of the Çınar Mosque in the Lower Neighborhood of İskeçe and drew large crowds from across the region.

Opening and Remarks

The fair opened on Friday, September 5, with a ceremony attended by community leaders and local residents. Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of İskeçe and President of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Consultative Committee, highlighted the effort behind the organization and expressed hope that the event would bring blessings to the community.

Broad Participation

The fair attracted wide participation from both Western Thrace and Türkiye. Among those attending were Türkiye’s Consul General in Gümülcine Aykut Ünal and his wife İlayda Ünal, MPs Hüseyin Zeybek, Burhan Baran, and Özgür Ferhat, Mayor of Mustafçova Ahmet Kurt, opposition leaders Rıdvan Deli Hüseyin and Cemil Kabza, members of the Regional Council, businesspeople from İskeçe, and numerous community members from across the area.

From Türkiye, Ahmet Minder, Chief Advisor to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, also attended with his delegation, showing solidarity with the minority community.

Traditional Cuisine and Support for Students

Visitors enjoyed a wide range of dishes including lahmacun, çiğ köfte, döner, tantuni, grilled specialties, and local delicacies. Organizers announced that proceeds from the fair will be used to support student aid programs and charitable initiatives under the İskeçe Mufti’s Office.