Anadolu agency: The parliament on Thursday approved a legislation on the compulsory retirement of muftis appointed in the country’s Western Thrace cities of Komotini (Gumulcine) and Xanthi (Iskece). The bill proposed the compulsory retirement of 81-year-old Mufti of Komotini Mehmet Emin Sinikoglu and 78-year-old Cemali Meco, mufti of Xanthi, citing their advanced ages.
The bill, which was prepared by the Ministry of Education under the order of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, was introduced in the parliament on Wednesday and was accepted by majority of the general assembly.
While the ruling Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), Independent Greeks (ANEL) and Democratic Alliance (DHSI) voted in favor of the bill, the main opposition New Democracy (ND) used its abstaining vote while the Golden Dawn (Hrisi Avgi) and Union of Centrists remained opposed.