From Western Thrace: Erdogan’s horn trumpets against Europe, Greece

Mustafa Kamel

With Turkish instructions, Ibrahim Sharif, works as the head of the so-called Advisory Council for the Turkish Minority in the Western Thrace Region and the Mufti of Komotini, elected by the local Muslim community, who live in the city of Komotini and where a Turkish minority lives.

The minority is estimated at nearly 150,000 people. Sharif has became one of the most important eyes that the Turkish intelligence planted there, by electing the Turkish Muslim community there for him, as a mufti and he became one of Erdogan’s most blatant trumpets, which are always cowed by the constant hostility towards Western countries, specifically Greece.

This comes due to recent dispute over Ajian which has become a thorn in the throat outlet directives of the Turkish state and its instructions for Jdrah, in fueling discord and hostility toward Athens.

Elected by Mufti

The election of muftis in Western Thrace has been the subject of a dispute between the Turkish community and the Greek authorities since 1991, as the mufti has the power to decide on family and inheritance matters for local Muslims.

Initially, the election of muftis was organized by Muslims in Greece with the Treaty of Athens in 1913 between Greece and the Ottoman Empire, which was later incorporated into Greek law in 1920, but this law was abolished by Greece in 1991.

The appointment of the mufti became a specialty of Greece, except that the Turks who are in Komotini do not recognize the appointed mufti, and elect a substitute for it, which the Greek state does not recognize, due to its progress on the law it concluded by appointing the mufti by its authorities.

Sharif became elected to the so-called Mufti Komotini through the election of the Muslim community that lives in the city, which is the local Muslim community since 1990.

Criticism in favor of Ankara

The unofficial Mufti Komotini, which is directly supported by Turkey, soon became one of its most tumultuous horns in implementing its instructions towards Western countries, especially Greece, particularly during the recent period, which witnessed remarkable tension between the two countries against the background of Turkey opening its doors.

Sharif attacked Greece in order to close mosques and small halls that are used in prayer in several municipalities, desiring to create complete confusion within Greek circles during the recent times.