Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
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PRESS RELEASE
October 12, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
U.S.: TURKEY EXERTS EXCESSIVE CONTROL OVER RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
Says Citizens Don’t Have Right to Practice Faith Freely
Washington, DC – A recent report by the United States Mission to the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) criticized
Turkey for exerting excessive state control over minority religions,
saying the Muslim country risks eroding the centuries-old Ecumenical
Patriarchate of Istanbul, as well as the historic Syriac and Armenian
Orthodox churches.
The report, which was delivered to the OSCE Human Dimension
Implementation Meeting in Warsaw on September 28, also called on
Turkey to clarify the legal status of 55 Protestant Churches that have
been unable to register in Turkey and are vulnerable to closure and
harassment.
“We regret that [Turkish]..authorities continue to inhibit the opening
of places of worship outside the Sunni Muslim mainstream and
systematically disregard the OSCE’s 1990 Bonn Document by
expropriating the properties of religious groups without
compensation,” the U.S. statement said.
Concurrently, the European Court of Human Rights is weighing a
decision on the property rights of two minority foundations in Turkey.
The Soorp Purgich Armenian Hospital Foundation and the Fener Greek
Boys High School Foundation filed cases against Turkey arguing that
they are in compliance with the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne.
The 1923 Treaty affords protection to foundations that provide public
services for religious minorities.
In both cases, property gifted to the Armenian and Greek foundations
were seized as the Turkish courts upheld orders declaring that the
bequest violated a decree disallowing non-Muslims from donating real
estate. If the court rules in favor of the foundations, hundreds of
buildings seized in the past may be returned.
“The Armenian Assembly commends the OSCE for continuing to closely
monitor religious freedom and minority rights in Turkey,” said
Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian. “Rather than
thwart freedom, Turkey must conform to EU standards where individual
freedoms are protected and respected.”
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
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NR#2005-102
Editor’s Note: The full text of the U.S. statement can be accessed at
the following link:
_28_05.pdf