Mufti

Greece does not consult with the Muslim minority living in its northeastern provinces on affairs that concern it, the leader of the Muslim minority's party said in an interview with Turkey's Anadolu Agency published on Friday.

Greece on Saturday rejected Turkish accusations that Muslim religious leaders will be under the control of a newly established government body, saying there are no such plans and called for an end to interventions in the country's domestic affairs.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Saturday issued a statement expressing objections to a recent Greek presidential decree stating that the religious leaders of the Muslim minority in northern Greece will be appointed by the state instead of being elected.

Turkey on June 21 decried a decision by Greece that local religious leaders, known as muftis, among the Turkish minority living in the Western Thrace would henceforth be appointed by the state instead of being elected by the local people.         

Turkey has called on Greece to "re-examine" a provision voted through Parliament last month that stipulates Muslim religious leaders (muftis) in the Greek border region of Western Thrace must retire at the age of 67.  

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy accused Athens on Monday of attempting to remove the autonomous status of the office of muftis.

Since March, funding for Bulgaria's Islamic schools, previously provided by the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs, or Diyanet, has been blocked, forcing the Bulgarian Grand Mufti's office to freeze the salaries of hundreds of imams, Grand Mufti spokesperson Jelal Faik told BIRN on Thursday.

Since March, funding for Bulgaria's Islamic schools, previously provided by the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs, or Diyanet, has been blocked, forcing the Bulgarian Grand Mufti's office to freeze the salaries of hundreds of imams, Grand Mufti spokesperson Jelal Faik told BIRN on Thursday.

A newly-launched practice whereby civil servants from mufti offices provide "values education" to children has stirred reaction after a mother complained her child had expressed the desire to die because "heaven is beautiful."

While criticizing the Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP), President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an recently said: ?We did not nominate a fake mufti in Diyarbak?r or a gay candidate in Eski?ehir. We do not have such issues.? 

Up to now he has been criticizing the programs of the opposition parties. He was trying to reply to opposition leaders but doing so within an artificial ?impartiality show.? 

BELGRADE - As a religion, Islam does not support violent acts, Mufti Muhamed Jusufspahic said commenting on the recent terrorist attack in France.

In a statement for the Belgrade-base Television B92, Jusufspahic said that the murder of 12 individuals in Paris should be regarded in the wider context because every murder has a new violent act as its consequence.