Greece perseveres in implementing 240 Imams Law!

Halit Habip Oğlu: “The state’s ex parte and imposing policy ignoring criticisms and reactions of the Western Thrace Turkish community is unacceptable, we ask for annulment of the 240 Imams Law”

Within the scope of the law numbered and dated 4115/2013 started to be implemented ignoring the autonomous structure of the Turkish community in Western Thrace in the field of religion, the Ministry of Education announced that 120 Islamic preachers will be employed at public primary and secondary schools to teach Turkish students Islam religion in Greek language in public schools in the region.

According to the announcement dated 8 August 2017 within the framework of the law known as “240 Imams Law” among the Western Thrace Turkish community, 120 Imams will be appointed to primary, secondary and high schools belonging to the state under the name of “religious instructors” on 9 months contract basis.

Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) made the following statement: “Despite all objections of the Western Thrace Turkish community, Greece perseveres in implementation of 240 Imams Law. This problem existed until now due to ex parte and imposing policy of the state authorities against the problem since 2007 with ignorance of criticisms and reactions by the Western Thrace Turkish community. In an environment where there is no dialogue and mutual understanding the state’s attitude of escalating the problem is unacceptable. As we repeated many times in the past we ask for annulment of implementation of the 240 Imams Law”