Greece and Turkey exchanged statements on October 24 over the appointment of muftis, Muslim religious leaders, in Xanthi and Komotini, with Athens defending its selection process and Ankara demanding recognition of religious leaders chosen by members of the minority.
The new appointees are Sioukri Serif Damadoglou in Xanthi and Bilal Kara Halil in Komotini, according to the presidential appointment decrees.
The dispute concerns who leads Muslim religious institutions in Thrace and how those leaders are selected. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry accused Greece of disregarding religious freedoms. Greece’s Foreign Ministry rejected the criticism and said Turkey was using the issue to interfere in its internal affairs.
Greece defends the Thrace mufti selection process
In its original statement, the Greek ministry cited Law 4964/2022, saying it created a transparent, democratic procedure involving members of the minority, including women.
Local newspaper Thraki reported that the appointments followed a recommendation by Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki and an opinion from a 33-member advisory committee selected by lottery. The decrees were published on October 21 and provide five-year terms, renewable once.
Athens also challenged Ankara’s description of the community as a Turkish minority. It said the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne defines the protected community in Thrace by religion, and that its members are Greek citizens who form part of Greek society.
The ministry argued that Turkey itself appoints muftis through the state. It said religious freedom is a fundamental right, but rejected its selective invocation as grounds for intervention in another country’s domestic affairs.
“The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, which governs the legal status of the Muslim minority in Thrace, is clear: It is a religious minority. Its character cannot be disputed or redefined at will. The Muslim minority of Thrace consists of Greek citizens and forms an integral part of Greek society,” the Greek Foreign Ministry’s statement said.
Ankara calls for recognition of elected leaders
Turkey’s statement, issued the same day, specifically challenged the appointments in Komotini and Xanthi. Ankara said Greece was failing to respect rights it considers protected by the Lausanne treaty and other international agreements.
The Turkish ministry described the mufti’s office as central to the community’s religious, social and cultural identity. It called on Greek authorities to recognize the muftis elected by the minority and abandon the appointment process it opposed.
The appointments replace a prolonged period of temporary leadership.
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