A Greek court has convicted four members of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace over incidents linked to a protest at Cinar Mosque in Xanthi, sentencing them to 17 months in prison each, with the sentences suspended and converted into financial penalties.
The Xanthi Court found defendants Huseyin Baltacı, Ozan Ahmetoglu, Bahri Belco and Murat Kose guilty of two separate charges related to the incident.
The case concerns events at Cinar Mosque in Western Thrace, where tensions arose over the presence of state-appointed religious officials.
Following the opening ceremony of the Xanthi Madrasa on October 11, 2024, state-appointed muftis attempted to enter the mosque to lead Friday prayers but were met with protests from members of the local congregation, who prevented them from entering.
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe condemned the convictions, describing the decision as undemocratic and expressing support for those found guilty.
The federation said the case is closely linked to the long-standing dispute over the appointment of muftis in Western Thrace and the religious freedoms of the Turkish minority.
