Greece and Turkey clash over Thrace Mufti appointments

Western Thrace Treaty of Lausanne Mufti appointments Greece-Turkey relations religious freedom

Diplomatic tensions have escalated between Greece and Turkey following the appointment of new Muftis in Gümülcine and İskeçe. The Turkish Foreign Ministry and Speaker of Parliament Numan Kurtulmuş criticized the move, calling the state-appointed officials ‘so-called muftis’ and accusing Athens of violating the Treaty of Lausanne and infringing upon the religious freedom of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.

In response, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Turkey’s claims, asserting that the Muslim minority in Thrace is a religious, not ethnic, minority and consists of Greek citizens. Greece maintains that the appointment process follows Law 4964/2022, which establishes a democratic procedure involving minority members, including women. Athens further characterized Turkey’s criticisms as ‘hypocritical,’ noting that Muftis in Turkey are appointed by the state.

Entities

Egypt · Giorgos Gerapetritis · Greece · Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Muslim Minority of Thrace · Numan Kurtulmuş · Thrace · Treaty of Lausanne · Turkey · Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Yaşar Güler

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Greece amended laws in 1991 to establish a permanent system of appointing Muftis.
[● 3 SOURCES] The Mufti crisis in Western Thrace began following the death of Hussein Mustafa Efendi in 1985. alkuwaitnews.net
[● 4 SOURCES] Numan Kurtulmuş called the appointments an interference in the religious freedom of Turks in Western Thrace. alkuwaitnews.net
[● 8 SOURCES] The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed dissatisfaction with the Greek decision. www.kentgazetesi.com · www.milletnews.com · www.press-gr.com · mansethaber.com · greekcitytimes.com · +1 more
[● 10 SOURCES] Greece published a government decision in its official gazette to appoint new Muftis in Komotini and Xanthi. alkuwaitnews.net · www.kentgazetesi.com · www.milletnews.com · www.press-gr.com · mansethaber.com · +2 more
[● 10 SOURCES] Turkey claims Greece is violating the Treaty of Lausanne. alkuwaitnews.net · www.kentgazetesi.com · www.milletnews.com · www.press-gr.com · mansethaber.com · +2 more
[● 21 SOURCES] The Muftis in Turkey are appointed by the state. athina984.gr · www.koutipandoras.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.real.gr · www.zougla.gr · +16 more
[● 21 SOURCES] The status of the minority cannot be redefined or disputed at will. www.paron.gr · athina984.gr · www.koutipandoras.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.real.gr · +16 more
[● 16 SOURCES] The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a response to Turkey on October 24, 2026. www.paron.gr · athina984.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.ethnos.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · +11 more
[● 21 SOURCES] Law 4964/2022 establishes the process for appointing Muftis in Greece. www.paron.gr · athina984.gr · www.koutipandoras.gr · www.naftemporiki.gr · www.real.gr · +16 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the Muslim minority in Thrace is a religious, not ethnic, minority. www.efsyn.gr · cretaone.gr · www.greeknewsusa.com · plevennovini.com · www.lykavitos.gr · +1 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Bilal Kara Halil was appointed as Mufti of Gümülcine. www.kentgazetesi.com · www.milletnews.com · www.press-gr.com