M. Sentop: “Komotini, the historic center of Turkism in Western Thrace.
Turkish official Mustafa Şentop called Komotini a "center of Turkism" during a provocative Balkans visit that included meetings with illegal pseudo-muftis in Greek Thrace.
Komotini is a “center of Turkism” according to Mustafa Şentop.
In yet another display of revisionist rhetoric, audacity, and direct challenge to the Greek legal order in Thrace, Professor Mustafa Şentop, a member of the High Advisory Council of the Turkish Presidency and Speaker of the 29th Term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), proceeded during his recent visit to the region on July 13, 2026.
Mr. Şentop, as part of his provocative tour of the Balkans, chose once again to instrumentalize the minority’s para-state structures, holding meetings and contacts at the illegal pseudo-muftis’ offices in Xanthi and Komotini, sending messages with clear recipients and machinations aimed against our national sovereignty.
The Turkish official began his program at the illegal pseudo-mufti’s office in Xanthi, where he met with the externally appointed president of the para-state structure euphemistically presented as the (un)official body “Advisory Committee of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace” and the self-proclaimed pseudo-mufti of Xanthi, Mustafa Trampa. Present at this meeting were Xanthi MP Hüseyin Zeybek and the pro-consulate agent Ozan Ahmetoğlu.
Mustafa Şentop’s statements on social media exceeded every limit of diplomatic courtesy and respect for Greece’s sovereign rights, confirming the coordinated character of Turkish propaganda and the attempt to create a parallel power structure.
Mr. Şentop characterized the pseudo-mufti’s office in Xanthi as “the tireless representative of the struggle for justice and identity in Western Thrace and guardian of our national and spiritual values”, while praising the stance, persistence, and patience of the pseudo-muftis, MP Hüseyin Zeybek, and Ozan Ahmetoğlu as “beyond all praise”, characteristically emphasizing that “our bond with the geography of our heart is as strong today as it was yesterday and will become even stronger tomorrow”.
In his social media post, Mustafa Şentop stated:
“We visited the [PSEUDO]Mufti’s Office of Xanthi, the tireless representative of the struggle for justice and identity in Western Thrace and guardian of our national and spiritual values, where we met with our compatriots. The resolute stance, persistence, and patience of our elected [PSEUDO] mufti Mustafa Trampa, as well as our valuable friends, Xanthi MP Hüseyin Zeybek and our brother Ozan Ahmetoğlu, are beyond all praise. Our bond with the geography of our heart is as strong today as it was yesterday and will become even stronger tomorrow.”
Immediately afterward, Mr. Şentop traveled to Komotini, where he visited the illegal pseudo-mufti’s office there and met with pseudo-mufti Ibrahim Şerif. These meetings provoked immediate reaction and public thanks from the two pseudo-muftis on social media, who expressed their complete satisfaction with Ankara’s “interest,” with Mustafa Trampa declaring his satisfaction with hosting the Turkish delegation and Ibrahim Şerif pointedly noting that the visit took place as part of Şentop’s Balkan tour.
The culmination of the provocation occurred during his visit to Komotini, which he characterized without reservation as “the historic center of Turkism in Western Thrace”, while simultaneously praising pseudo-mufti Ibrahim Şerif for his years-long “struggle” and sending the message that “our brothers in Western Thrace are never alone; our heart is always with them”.
Mustafa Şentop’s Post
“We visited our Mufti’s Office in Komotini, the historic center of Turkism in Western Thrace.
Our elected mufti Ibrahim Şerif has been leading the struggle for justice and identity with dignity for many years. This honorable stance is beyond all praise.
Our brothers in Western Thrace are never alone; our heart is always with them.”
Editorial Comment: The extremely revisionist and inflammatory statements by Mustafa Şentop from Komotini, which he hastened to christen the “center of Turkism,” do not merely constitute yet another colorful or expected diplomatic impropriety, but a direct insult to the local community and its institutions.
As editors, we cannot help but ask: Truly, does this vulgar instrumentalization of our region and the demeaning characterization of our city satisfy the Mayor of Komotini, the local MPs, the political establishment of the area, and ultimately, the society of Rhodope itself?
Will the local leaders, parliamentary representatives, and institutional bodies continue to remain silent and tolerate Komotini being turned into a stage for Ankara’s nationalist shows and the local criminals playing pseudo-muftis, or will they finally find the strength to stand tall, protecting democratic coexistence, the Greek legal order, and the dignity of the citizens they represent?
Source: TAXIARCHISpress
