Greece continues to insist on ignoring the rights and freedoms of the Western Thrace Turkish minority, which are guaranteed by the Lausanne Peace Treaty, by not recognising the Muftis elected by the Minority.

The process of determining an “appointed Mufti,” imposed under the guise of an “election” without consulting the representatives and institutions of the Western Thrace Turkish minority in Didymoteicho in recent months, is now being attempted in the provinces of Rhodope and Xanthi. It is not possible for us to accept these practices. On this occasion, we once again bring to the attention of the international community that Greece does not recognise the elected religious leaders of an official minority in its country.

We emphasise that the cessation of Greece's oppressive practices against our kinsmen will also positively affect our bilateral relations, and we call on the Greek authorities to turn back from the wrong path they insist on following regarding the Western Thrace Turkish minority.

Turkey, also taking into account its treaty obligations, will continue to closely monitor the protection of the rights of the Western Thrace Turkish minority in Greece.

The Muslim minority of Thrace is a religious minority. The Treaty of Lausanne of 1923, which governs its legal status, is not open to multiple interpretations, and its religious rather than ethnic character is indisputable.

In the Treaty of Lausanne, no provision is made for the election of the Muftis by the minority, nor could this be the case given that they are additionally charged with judicial and administrative responsibilities.

The Greek State, by law 4964/2022, provided for the establishment of a committee composed of members of the minority, including women, which evaluates and recommends the best candidates for the position of Mufti. Pursuant to this law, the appointment of the new Mufti of Didymoteicho has been completed, while the announcements to fill the positions of the Muftis of Xanthi and Komotini have already been made public. And this while in Turkey itself the Muftis are appointed.

Greece, as a European state of law, handles with absolute responsibility the issues of the Muslim minority in Thrace, based on the principles of equality and equality, and above all, it ensures the religious freedom of its members. This is not going to change, just like the name of the Minority provided by international law will not change because some refuse to accept the absolutely obvious.