As a “great day for Greece, Democracy and Human Rights” was how Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Minister Sofia Zacharaki characterized yesterday’s events, referring to the decision of the Greek Parliament to recognize –with broad cross-party consensus– the religious community of Bektashi Alevi Muslims of Thrace as a religious legal entity of private law. A decision that, according to her, constitutes a significant step forward in respecting religious freedoms and the country’s multiculturalism.
Read: Thrace: Religious community of Bektashi Alevi Muslims recognized through bill
Zacharaki: Great day for Greece as Bektashi Alevi Muslims of Thrace gain recognition
Immediately after the relevant bill was voted on in Parliament, Minister Sofia Zacharaki, together with New Democracy rapporteur MP and former Deputy Education Minister Angelos Syrigos, traveled yesterday afternoon to Alexandroupoli and from there to northern Evros, to Roussa in the Municipality of Soufli, where Bektashi Alevi Muslims live and where the eponymous Tekke is located – the second largest religious center of Bektashis worldwide and the first in the Balkans, which has operated continuously as a place of prayer and worship since 1353.
Sofia Zacharaki and Angelos Syrigos initially visited the Tekke of Roussa, where the tomb of Seghit Ali Sultan is located, who had settled in the area in the 14th century and whom many Bektashi Alevi Muslims, from Greece and abroad, visit to pay their respects.
“Today we don’t walk, we fly with joy” residents said
“Today we don’t walk, we fly with joy,” residents of the area told Ms. Zacharaki, while the reception of her and Angelos Syrigos was enthusiastic in Roussa’s square, where the opening ceremony of the three-day festive events titled “CHILIA 2025” took place. The name comes from the “chilia” hill where oil wrestling competitions are held, meaning the wrestlers have oiled their bodies. These competitions have been held every summer for seven centuries in memory of Seghit Ali Sultan and attract great interest.
The gathered crowd did not hide their joy, as recognition of their religious community was a request of many years, and they warmly applauded Sofia Zacharaki and Angelos Syrigos when they took the stage. “Friends, today is a great day both for Greece and for Democracy. It is a great day because we honor Human Rights and send a very important message: Greek women and men cannot be divided by anything,” said Ms. Zacharaki taking the floor.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s wishes
“I want to convey the wishes of the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as well as all the MPs, women and men, who voted, as the Greek Parliament, beyond parties, for today’s recognition,” she emphasized and continued: “And what did the Greek Parliament recognize today? The Greek Parliament, the Greek nation, recognized you Bektashi Alevis. It recognized your history, it recognized your faith, it recognized your culture. It recognized that you have a place in the light, with pride for what you are. And, allow me to repeat it, this was done by the Greek Parliament. It is the greatest honor for you what happened today, because it was not given by a minister’s decision but was done by the Greek Parliament and together with the heart of all Greeks.
When this effort began, I don’t know how many of you believed that the day and hour of vindication would come. But this day came and the dream became reality and we are all here today to celebrate it here and now. “Greece shows us that we are united by much more than what divides us.” Greece shows us that we are united by much more than what divides us. Greece is here for all of us and we as brothers are here for her. Greece unites us because we are all its citizens. Democracy unites us because we all have the same rights and obligations. Freedom unites us, hope unites us.” She emphasized that for her it was particularly moving to hear Ahmet and Aise speak in Parliament, because “their words were words from the heart of all of you. Their longing was the longing of all of you.” Sofia Zacharaki praised the contribution of Angelos Syrigos, as well as General Secretary of Religious Affairs Giorgos Kalantzis, who were supporters of the request for recognition of the Bektashi Alevi Muslims of Thrace and helped in the advocacy.
What Angelos Syrigos said
Taking the floor, Angelos Syrigos, who has visited Roussa and the broader area many times as Deputy Education Minister, said he feels “a bit local” and addressing the gathered crowd emphasized: “Friends, we have the Treaty of Lausanne that protects your rights and those of you who are Bektashi Alevis have one more protection, the one voted today in the Greek Parliament. Your children will be able to freely learn your faith in your schools, to protect your own places, to protect the tekkes and sacred monuments you have. This was done by the Greek state. The Tekke of Roussa operates continuously as a place of prayer, it is the only place that never stopped functioning as a place of prayer for even a moment. Let us remember this.” Representatives of the area’s residents offered commemorative gifts to Sofia Zacharaki and Angelos Syrigos.
Who delivered greetings
Greetings were delivered by Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis, Soufli Mayor Panagiotis Kalakikos, Chairman of the Committee of Alevi Muslims of Thrace Kara Hussein Ahmet who spoke of a historic moment and thanked the Greek Parliament, and a representative of Bektashis from Germany. Distinguished representatives of Bektashism and Alevism from European countries and Turkey were present.
The invitation for the three-day festive events “CHILIA 2025” was extended by Agas Kara Ahmet, the Archbishop of Tekke Seghit Ali Sultan, Ismailoglou Memet, and the Chairman of the Committee of Alevi Muslims of Thrace Kara Hussein Ahmet. Sofia Zacharaki is the first Education Minister to visit Roussa, tour the Tekke Seghit Ali Sultan and attend the opening ceremony of the events. The Tekke of Roussa was visited by Nikos Dendias as Foreign Minister, Angelos Syrigos as Deputy Education Minister has visited Roussa, and Deputy Interior Minister (Macedonia and Thrace) Kostas Gkioulekas was the first government member to attend the “CHILIA 2024” events.
