Vandalism at mosque in northern Greece provokes local condemnation

Elham Asaad Buaras

Community leaders and politicians in Western Thrace, Greece, have condemned an act of vandalism at the Hürriyet Mosque, where unidentified individuals inscribed a cross and religious text on an exterior wall during the month of Ramadan.

The graffiti, discovered on the morning of February 27, included a cross and the Christogram “IC XC – NIKA”, an Eastern Orthodox symbol meaning “Jesus Christ conquers”. It was drawn on the qibla wall of the mosque, which indicates the direction of Mecca and is faced during prayer.

Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), issued a statement condemning the incident. “We condemn in the strongest terms this despicable attack on our mosque during the holy month of Ramadan,” he said. “This ugly attack against our sacred place and the Turkish community in Western Thrace, which aims to damage the atmosphere of peace and tranquillity in our region, is unacceptable. We expect the authorities to swiftly investigate the attack, identify the perpetrators as soon as possible, bring them to justice, and punish them as they deserve.”

Other representatives echoed his remarks. The Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board described the act as a deliberate provocation and noted that it had prompted reactions from minority representatives, elected officials, and local authorities across the region. It added that attacks against places of worship must be fully investigated. Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of İskeçe and chairman of the advisory board, said: “This despicable act, carried out especially during the holy month of Ramadan, has deeply hurt… We strongly condemn this attack against our mosque and our community and call on the authorities to identify and prosecute the perpetrators as soon as possible.”

Political figures also responded. Özgür Ferhat, MP for Rodopi with the New Left party, described the vandalism as a “planned provocation” intended to disrupt communal relations, particularly given its timing during Ramadan and on a Friday. “This was not random,” he said. “This was a disgraceful attack.” He called on Greek authorities, including the Minister of Citizen Protection, to ensure a swift investigation and accountability for those responsible. Mayors from the municipalities of Mustafçova, Iasmos (Yassıköy), and Kozlukebir also expressed condemnation, stressing the importance of safeguarding religious sites and maintaining peaceful coexistence.

Western Thrace is home to a recognised Muslim minority under international agreements and has a history of cohabitation between communities of different faiths. Acts of vandalism against religious sites are viewed as symbolically significant and capable of affecting intercommunal trust, particularly during periods of religious observance. Community representatives and local officials have called for increased security and a thorough investigation to prevent further incidents.