A parallel report by ABTTF for the U.S. 2016 Greece Religious Freedom Report

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) prepared a parallel report for the U.S. International Religious Freedom Report 2016 on Greece published by the United States of America (USA) Department of State. In the report conveyed to competent authorities by the US, the issue of muftis and primarily the issue of “240 Imam Law” and problems of Western Thrace Turkish community experienced in the field of religious freedom were articulated in detail.

ABTTF: Elected muftis are called to bear testimony on the ground of “usurpation of office” and they are brought before the court

In its parallel report ABTTF stated that Greece has usurped the right of Western Thrace Turkish community to select its own religious leaders and criticized the appointment of muftis by the state. ABTTF indicated that political pressure has been imposed through legal proceedings conducted for İbrahim Şerif, Elected Mufti of Komotini and Ahmet Mete, Elected Mufti of Xanthi and noted the elected muftis are called to police department to bear testimony many times on the ground that they have “usurped the office of mufti”. Within this scope, ABTTF noted that lawsuit was filed against Ahmet Mete, Elected Mufti of Xanthi because that he led the prayer at the funeral in the village of Gökçepınar(Glafki) in 2016.

Despite the objections by Western Thrace Turkish community, 240 Imam Law is insistently in enforcement

As a response to the U.S. report in which there are no criticisms regarding the Law 4115/2013 known to be the Law “240 Imam Law” on tutoring course of İslam religion in Greek language at public schools, ABTTF stated that “240 Imam Law” is a critical intervention to autonomous structure of Western Thrace Turkish community in religious field. ABTTF noted that despite the objections of the Western Thrace Turkish community imams are trained under the name of religious instructors and course books are prepared and lastly in August 2017 announcement was made for employment of 120 more imams.

Against the U.S. report in which it is stated the Greek government allows for prayer houses, ABTTF indicated that the demand for opening historical mosques except for the ones in Western Thrace for prayer during religious festivals are rejected. Additionally, ABTTF expressed that the masjids established by Western Thrace Turkish community members within the associations were closed due to the reason that they did not have a separate working permit.

Discourse of hatred against Western Thrace Turkish community imposes danger

In addition to the U.S. report which refers to the attack Golden Dawn on 21st commemoration ceremony of Dr. Ahmet Sadık, Leader of Western Thrace Turkish community and founder of Friendship, Equality and Peace(FEP) Party, ABTTF noted down hate-motivated attacks against Western Thrace Turkish community in 2016. ABTTF as a part of current developments stated that explanation by Vasilis Leventis, from Greek Central Union Party at Thessaloniki Trade Fair in September 2017 summarizes perspective on Western Thrace Turkish community in political environment in Greece. ABTTF expressed that hatred discourse is increasing in the region and indicated an organization named Senior Patrol Group showed administrators of Xanthi Turkish Union in October as a target.