Religion

The fourth category is interesting in regards to its absence rather than its presence. Religion seems to be the shadow of this research. Nonetheless, it is undeniably present in most people’s lives and in majority defines a part of people’s identity. Indeed, to the question ‘Does religion define a part of your identity?’ 54,7% of people responded Yes, while 37,7% said No and the remaining 7,7% replied that they didn’t know. This is a relatively high number when one takes into account that 65% of the survey participants were under the age of 35. In more detail, out of 30,8% of participants who identified either as Muslim from the minority or Turkish participants, 75% agreed that religion was a defining part of themselves. Every single female participant agreed to this statement while the male response was more varied. On the other hand, out of 61,5% of Greek Orthodox participants, about half replied Yes and the other half replied No. It appears that the younger generation seemed much less prone to identify with religion while the older (over 35) had a tendency to identify more with religion. Still it is important to insist that because this data is very restricted, it doesn’t necessarily reflect a conclusive result on this question. Nonetheless, religion is still a significant part of Komotini and particularly for the Muslim community. In addition, Bruce Clark, an Irish journalist who conducted in depth research on the topic of the relations between Greece and Turkey post-Lausanne Treaty, did point out that the minority that was permitted to remain in Greece was indeed more religious than some parts of Turkey at the time (2006, 87-88). He draws a parallel between the Orthodox and Muslims communities’ different religions and the fact that they do not mix. This was an interesting statement because in the interviews of this research hardly anyone even mentioned religion as a factor of discrimination or as a cause to the problem of integration of the minority. Even more interestingly, according to Stefanos Gravanis for example, religion in most cases is either taken as a ‘bad excuse’ or simply irrelevant when one talks about integration in Komotini. Thus, it seems important to analyse this matter further.

Greek Orthodox Church

First of all, what seems primordial here is to understand the importance of the Orthodox Church in Greece. The division between State and the cleric body is not entirely separated. The Church takes on the role of helping through charity work while also owning a huge part of Greece’s lands. Indeed, these terms were defined after the War of Independence of Greece when the church of the time helped and strongly encouraged Greece to claim its independence from the Ottoman Empire (See historical background). Until a few years ago the Greek Church was criticized for not paying taxes but according to the Greek reporter started paying taxes and is playing more of an important role in its humanitarian mission to relieve Greece from its economical crisis.

In addition, the Christian Orthodox religion is taught in all schools. Although there has been some talk about changing the presence of religion in school, it remains present at this time. Furthermore, Orthodox religious celebrations such as Christmas and Easter are also still extremely important and seem to define a big part of the customs of Greece.

These whole processes reflect how Orthodoxy is an essential part of what it means to be Greek. Thus, it would seem that people underestimate the importance of religion in their identity. In Greece, it is difficult to make a clear separation between the Greek ethnicity and the Christian Orthodox religion. The natures of both entities mix and shape each other. Thus, the fact that people didn’t even mention religion seems important because it symbolises how most people seem unaware of the historical significance and influence their religion has on their identity and the way it shapes their society today.

Islam in Western Thrace

Secondly, according to some of the Muslim participants like Umit Halil Ibrah, religion is also a strong part of the minority’s customs and it is very much intertwined in their everyday life.

This process is strongly influenced by history and the Lausanne treaty agreement. Although Turkey was based on a secular state, the Muslim minority continued to define itself in terms of religion as they did during the Ottoman Empire because the Lausanne Treaty allowed them too. Therefore, historically speaking it is no surprise that they are conservative. Furthermore, the important role of the mufti in their society is also a factor that influences the extent of their devotion to faith today.

‘The mufti is in effect functioning as a judge. He can make decisions in matters pertaining marriage, divorce, pensions, alimony, emancipation of minors and custody. (Tsitselikis, 2004a). In addition, the mufti is in charge of collecting the zakât(obligatory charity).“According to Islamic law and tradition, the mufti has the duty to implement the zekaat(charity action) in order to guarantee the minimum standards of livelihood for the poorest members of the community. Thus, the mufti takes the initiative to organize the zeka at aiming at gathering of money from the wealthier members of the community and its redistribution to the poorest ones.” (Tsitselikis, 2004b:112)’ (Alev, 2010, 6).

Therefore, like in the Greek Orthodox priests, the mufti takes on the role of charity worker but he is also the judge. I will discuss this role and its issues in more detail in the politics part.

Therefore, like Greek Orthodox priests, the mufti takes on the role of charity worker but he also serves judicial functions. His role and its issues will be discussed in more detail in the politics part.

Finally, according to Amet Omer, the region because of its diverse demography remains one of the safest places for the communities to live in peace in Greece. The Muslims here have mosques to pray in, and feel comfortable to express their religious beliefs, which according to some of the interviewees is a different story in the rest of Greece, as the example of the debate around the Mosque in Athens illustrates.

Thus, it is obvious that in part because of history and the particular rights they get in Western Thrace, the Muslim minority remains very devoted to their faith.

Drawing similarities between the practices of faiths of Orthodox and Muslim Thracians

As mentioned already, in the interviews the Greek Orthodox community expressed a worry regarding the local Muslims’ practice of Islam as being an overpowering present part of the community. However, it was identified that Christianity is a big part of the Greek national identity and that like Greek Orthodox attach a big importance to their religious customs, Muslims do too.

Firstly, both Greek and minority schools teach religious education. Indeed, one commonality is that regardless of their religious orientations the few participants that spoke about religion agreed that religious education in and out of school is necessary.

Secondly, both religions give a role to their religious leaders that don’t limit them to their religious duties. In the case of the Orthodox this is expressed through an undefined separation between State and Clerical body. In the case of the Muslims it entails their Mufti taking on a judicial role in their community. Furthermore, both the religious leaders play a role in terms of charity.

Thirdly, one of the participants even pointed out that both communities have a similar love for their religion. Thus, although their religious beliefs, place of pray, and religious customs are different both share the same devotion to their faith. This is pointed out to prove that although both religions are different, the way they are practiced actually indicates to yet another similarity between the communities.

Thus, it seems that as religion and national identity in Greece are so closely connected sometimes it is difficult to make the difference between these notions (See Glossary) which reflects the belief that to be Greek one must be Orthodox. Therefore, it is important to express this common misunderstanding and not limit the Greeks to their religious identity as the Greek Muslim minority of Western Thrace prove that to be Greek one doesn’t necessarily need to be a Christian.