Strasbourg, France - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) convicted Greece yesterday of violating the right to freedom of religion for a mufti (religious leader) from Iskece, Western Thrace.
The court ruled that Greece violated Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which deals with religious rights, when Athens didn't permit Mehmet Emin Aga to continue in the post even though he was elected to the position by the Muslim minority in Western Thrace.
Aga was elected mufti of Iskece in August 1990 but Athens didn't recognize his election and instead appointed another mufti to replace him. A Greek court first convicted Aga to time in prison claiming that he continued his duty despite the Interior Ministry's decision, but later reduced that to a fine.
He took the case to the ECHR and the top court ruled that Greece has to pay 3,000 euros in court costs.