The Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement on Friday evening in reaction to a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministrym, which congratulated the new Muslim mufti of the Turkish minority in the Xanthi region in Western Thrace, northern Greece.
“ The Turkish side attempts, once again, to distort reality and project fake news regarding the Muslim minority in Thrace,” said the Greek ministry.
In its own statement, Turkey said it calls on Greece to respect the religious rights and freedoms of the Turkish minority, which are guaranteed by international agreements, in particular the Lausanne Peace Treaty, it was added. In the same text, Turkey also congratulated the new Muslim cleric on what it called his “ election” to his new post.
“It is worth asking in which provision of the Treaty of Lausanne, which is systematically violated by Turkey, it is mentioned that the muftis of the Muslim Minority in Thrace are elected,” the Greek ministry continued.
“ We expect the Turkish side to point us to the specific article,” the Greek ministry added.
“ It is at least an oxymoron that Turkey is attempting to establish, in a third country, procedures for the election of religious leaders, which it does not even apply in its own territory,” the Greek ministry underlined. It continued to highlight that “ as is known, the Greek Parliament recently passed a law on the modernization of the Muftis.This law creates a modern and comprehensive institutional framework for Muftias and Muftis in Thrace.”
In contrast, said the Greek ministry, “ Turkey continues to violate the rights of the almost extinct Greek Minority in Istanbul, Imvros and Tenedos.”
SOURCE; ANA-MPA
