The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its refusal to continue the operation of the Greek Orthodox School, Halki Seminary, until the Fethiye Mosque opens once more for the Muslim population. The Deputy Minister, Metin Kulunk, stated during a meeting of the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association that took place in Germany, that the school will undoubtedly remain closed until Greece fulfills the promise it gave in the Lausanne Treaty.
Athens is currently the only European capital without an official mosque. This fact creates friction between the two countries seeing as Turkey is demanding the reopening of the mosque and saying that in return, the Greek Orthodox School in the Heybeliada Island that has been closed since 1971, will finally operate again. Furthermore, the Minister noted that while Greece is refusing to reopen the mosque, Istanbul hosts churches, synagogues, and mosques that are built side by side and co-exist with no problems.
The Muslim population of Greece, both native and migrant is complaining because of the country’s refusal to let them build new mosques or even rebuild the old ones that exist from the Ottoman era, while also refusing them the right to elect their own religious representative in the Greek government.