Turkish minority condemns Islamophobic poster placed near mosque in northern Greece

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish minority in Greece strongly condemned a provocative Islamophobic poster on Tuesday that was placed near a mosque in northern Greece.

Media reports Monday said the poster that read: “Islamization of Evros (region) should be stopped now,” was placed near the historical Chelebi Sultan Mehmed Mosque in the town of Didymoteicho (Dimetoka).

The Friendship, Equality and Peace Party (DEB), a party popular with the Turkish minority community, said the incident is an indicator of existing fascist tendencies in Evros.

The Turkish Muslim minority that peacefully co-exists with other residents of the region should be appreciated as they deserve, the party wrote on Twitter.

“We condemn racist ideas and attacks which we wish come to an end as soon as possible,” it added.

A leading minority figure in Didymoteicho, Suleyman Macir, told the minority Birlik newspaper that Muslims and Christians co-existed in the region for a long time and Islamophobic attacks have no place in the region.

“We, as the minority, have some problems. Yet, never before did such an insulting attack on our religion occur,” he said, stressing that the community expects respect for their beliefs as they show respect for the beliefs of others.

Greece’s Western Thrace region, which includes Evros, is home to about 150,000 Muslim Turks.​​​​​​​