Diplomatic dispute over minority rights and mufti appointments in Thrace

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on April 8 accusing Greece of violating the rights of the Muslim minority in Western Thrace, specifically regarding the appointment of muftis. Ankara criticized the process of appointing a mufti in Didymoteicho, describing it as a pretense that excludes minority representatives, and expressed concerns over similar developments in Rodopi and Xanthi. Turkey argues that these officials should be elected by the minority, citing its interpretation of the Treaty of Lausanne. Conversely, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the Turkish claims, asserting that the Treaty of Lausanne is not open to reinterpretation. Athens maintains that the minority is strictly defined as a religious group rather than a national one. Furthermore, Greece emphasizes that since muftis exercise judicial functions in the region, their appointment by the state remains a legal necessity. This disagreement remains a recurring point of friction in bilateral relations between Greece and Turkey.