Western Thrace Turks expect implementation of Treaty of Lausanne

Turks from Western Thrace expect that fulfillment of the rights stemming from the Lausanne Treaty will be discussed during the meeting of Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis with President Erdogan in Türkiye on May 13

President of the Consultative Committee of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace (BTTADK) and Elected Mufti of Komotini Ibrahim Serf stated that Greece prevents the Turkish minority from exercising any rights arising from the Treaty of Lausanne.

“In the treaties made in the past, first of all, the people will elect the muftis, just like in the Christian dogma. The muftis will also elect the grand mufti,” Serf added.

“In 1990, the Greek administration took away the right of the Turkish minority to elect their muftis and started a new practice in which the muftis are appointed by the Greek administration. The mufti should be elected by the Muslim people here, but as we see, the state uses the appointment procedure here. This is your mufti, this is the person who will shape your religion or lead you. But our religion and the treaties give us the right to choose our mufti,” he added.

Aydin Ahmet, President of the Western Thrace Turkish Teachers’ Union, drew attention to the educational problems of the Turkish minority and emphasized the importance of opening bilingual kindergartens.

Ahmet stated that their demand for a bilingual kindergarten was not met by the Greek authorities.

Sedat Hasan, President of Komotini Turkish Youth Union (GTGB), said that platform was officially closed down because it had the word “Turkish” on its signboard and that it continued its activities unofficially. 

Source: Newsroom