Western Thrace Turk Mülazım Cemali attacked by far-rightists

ABTTF President Halit Habipoğlu: The violent attack against Mülazım Cemali clearly demonstrates the increasing hate-motivated attacks in Western Thrace, Greece

Mülazım Cemali, a teacher belonging to the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, was attacked by far-rightists on Tuesday evening, October 18 in Xanthi city centre as he was hanging a placard of an event. Cemali, who was a deputy candidate for the extreme-left Antarsia Party in Xanthi, is a member of a group called “Movement Against Racism and Fascist Threat”. The assailants hit Cemali and three other members of the activist group. According to the daily Trakya’nın Sesi, the violent attack was staged by the members of the ultra-nationalist political party Golden Dawn (Chrysi Avgi). After the attack had been notified to the police, one of the perpetrators was arrested.

“The violent attack by far-rightists against Mülazım Cemali who is a member of a group against racism and fascism clearly demonstrates the increasing hate-motivated attacks against the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace in Greece. As ABTTF, we strongly condemn this hideous attack, and call on the competent authorities to take more immediately the necessary measures in order that such violent attacks do not happen again and spread to wider society.” said Halit Habipoğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).