‘Greece does not show Turkish descendants respect’ Turkish imams, muftis should decide on chief mufti in Greece as we don't appoint patriarch, says Turkish president

April 17, 2021   

(Anadolu) Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday condemned the latest move by Greece on appointing the chief mufti and Athens’ treatment of Turkish descendants in Western Thrace.

“Under Treaty of Lausanne, Greece has no right to appoint the chief mufti for Muslims as Turkey does not have the right to appoint the patriarch in our country,” said Erdogan after attending the commemoration ceremony of Turkey’s late President Turgut Ozal.

“Not Greek officials but our muftis and imams have the right to decide on the chief mufti in Greece,” he added.

He also criticized how Athens treated Turkish descendants living in the country, saying that “some 150,000 people of Turkish descent live in Western Thrace today, but Greece does not show them the respect those citizens deserve.”

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