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U.S. Department of State
13 April 2005
Congressman Applauds Turkish Efforts on Religious Freedom
Helsinki Commission Co-chair Christopher Smith addresses hearing
Turkey's current government has taken "significant steps" in support of
religious liberties, according to Christopher H. Smith, the co-chairman of
the U.S. Helsinki Commission, who addressed a hearing on religious freedom
in Turkey April 12.
Smith, a Republican congressman from New Jersey, said he applauded Turkey's
efforts to bring its legal system into conformity with Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) commitments on religious freedom.
However, "there are important areas still requiring close attention and
urgent action," he added, citing in particular Turkey's system of regulating
religious groups, the loss of important religious properties through
government expropriations, and the difficulties meeting openly that
protestant and evangelical groups are experiencing.
"I urge the Government of Turkey to continue its good work and redouble
efforts to fully respect the rights of individuals and their communities to
freely profess and practice their faith," he concluded.
Also testifying at the hearing were: Merve Kavakci, former member of the
Turkish Grand National Assembly; Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, Armenian
Orthodox Church; Van Krikorian, Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission;
Barry Jacobs, American Jewish Committee; and
Jeff King, President, International Christian Concern.
The U.S. Helsinki Commission, which is also known as the Commission on
Security and Cooperation in Europe, is an independent federal agency that
monitors progress in implementing provisions of the Helsinki Accords. The
Commission is composed of nine Senators, nine Representatives, and one
official each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.
Following is the text of Smith's prepared statement:
(begin text)
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Washington, D.C.
April 12, 2005
BRIEFING: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN TURKEY
Statement by Hon. Christopher H. Smith
Co-Chairman
Helsinki Commission
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Today's briefing will examine the
situation faced by Muslims, Protestants, members of the Armenian Orthodox
Church and the Jewish community in the Republic of Turkey. Last month we
highlighted the serious problems experienced by the Greek Orthodox
Ecumenical Patriarchate. We plan to hold a Commission hearing soon on Turkey
to discuss human rights issues overall, Ankara's efforts to meet EU criteria
for accession, and that country's implementation record as a longstanding
OSCE participating State.
First, I do applaud efforts by Turkey to bring its legal system into
conformity with OSCE commitments on religious freedom. The current
government has taken significant steps to improve conditions for the
enjoyment of religious liberties, steps that were unthinkable just a few
years ago. At the same time, as we learned last month about the Greek
Orthodox Church, there are important areas still requiring close attention
and urgent action.
Turkey's system of regulating religious groups remains problematic,
especially the ban on headscarves in public institutions and the secular
government's strict control of Islamic teaching and practice. While the EU
has rightfully focused much attention on the religious freedoms of
non-Muslim religious groups, it has been virtually silent regarding the
rights of Muslims to practice their faith. As Members of the Helsinki
Commission have consistently urged every prime minister over the past
decade, the right of women to openly manifest their religious beliefs,
including in public places and schools must be fully respected. While the
President of Turkey recently approved legislation to allow thousands of
students expelled from universities to return, including women who violated
the ban on headscarves, the ban nevertheless remains. The time has come to
end this injustice
The Armenian Orthodox Church has suffered the loss of important properties
through government expropriations. Similar to the situation of the Greek
Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox and Catholic Churches, the Armenian Orthodox
Church has lost much under current laws that enable the government to assume
direct administration of properties that fall into "disuse" when the size of
the local community falls below a certain point. In addition, the Armenian
Patriarchate continues to seek recognition of its legal status. Last
September, Turkey did adopt regulations to improve the way the size of a
religious community is gauged and to give communities with legal status the
ability to acquire new property. However, the loss of property has done much
damage to the church and the legislation does not allow for the reclamation
of properties unjustly expropriated by the State.
Protestant and evangelical groups are experiencing problems in meeting
openly, despite reforms that purportedly allow non-Muslim religious
communities to build churches and buy property. Groups without legal
standing or unable to afford these options cannot meet in other locations,
such as private homes or rented facilities, as authorities have actively
sought to close these meeting places under the pretext of zoning laws. Worse
yet, the reforms are enforced in varying degrees depending upon the will of
the local officials. I urge the government to explicitly allow for the
holding of religious meetings in rented facilities or private homes.
Turkey has a special relationship with the Turkish Jewish community dating
back to the Ottoman period, when Sephardic Jews fleeing the Spanish
Inquisition were welcomed and given refuge. After the November 2003 bombings
of two Jewish synagogues, not only did Prime Minister Erdogan publicly
denounce the bombings, but he also met with Jewish leaders, reportedly a
first in the history of the Republic. At the same time, there are disturbing
reports that "Mein Kampf," Hitler's notorious work outlining his
anti-Semitic world view, has become a bestseller in Turkey. I urge the prime
minister and other leaders in Turkey to speak out publicly against resurgent
interest in such racist materials.
In closing, Turkey has done much to earn a date to begin negotiations with
the European Union. I urge the Government of Turkey to continue its good
work and redouble efforts to fully respect the rights of individuals and
their communities to freely profess and practice their faith.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
13 April 2005
Congressman Applauds Turkish Efforts on Religious Freedom
Helsinki Commission Co-chair Christopher Smith addresses hearing
Turkey's current government has taken "significant steps" in support of
religious liberties, according to Christopher H. Smith, the co-chairman of
the U.S. Helsinki Commission, who addressed a hearing on religious freedom
in Turkey April 12.
Smith, a Republican congressman from New Jersey, said he applauded Turkey's
efforts to bring its legal system into conformity with Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) commitments on religious freedom.
However, "there are important areas still requiring close attention and
urgent action," he added, citing in particular Turkey's system of regulating
religious groups, the loss of important religious properties through
government expropriations, and the difficulties meeting openly that
protestant and evangelical groups are experiencing.
"I urge the Government of Turkey to continue its good work and redouble
efforts to fully respect the rights of individuals and their communities to
freely profess and practice their faith," he concluded.
Also testifying at the hearing were: Merve Kavakci, former member of the
Turkish Grand National Assembly; Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, Armenian
Orthodox Church; Van Krikorian, Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission;
Barry Jacobs, American Jewish Committee; and
Jeff King, President, International Christian Concern.
The U.S. Helsinki Commission, which is also known as the Commission on
Security and Cooperation in Europe, is an independent federal agency that
monitors progress in implementing provisions of the Helsinki Accords. The
Commission is composed of nine Senators, nine Representatives, and one
official each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.
Following is the text of Smith's prepared statement:
(begin text)
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Washington, D.C.
April 12, 2005
BRIEFING: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN TURKEY
Statement by Hon. Christopher H. Smith
Co-Chairman
Helsinki Commission
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Today's briefing will examine the
situation faced by Muslims, Protestants, members of the Armenian Orthodox
Church and the Jewish community in the Republic of Turkey. Last month we
highlighted the serious problems experienced by the Greek Orthodox
Ecumenical Patriarchate. We plan to hold a Commission hearing soon on Turkey
to discuss human rights issues overall, Ankara's efforts to meet EU criteria
for accession, and that country's implementation record as a longstanding
OSCE participating State.
First, I do applaud efforts by Turkey to bring its legal system into
conformity with OSCE commitments on religious freedom. The current
government has taken significant steps to improve conditions for the
enjoyment of religious liberties, steps that were unthinkable just a few
years ago. At the same time, as we learned last month about the Greek
Orthodox Church, there are important areas still requiring close attention
and urgent action.
Turkey's system of regulating religious groups remains problematic,
especially the ban on headscarves in public institutions and the secular
government's strict control of Islamic teaching and practice. While the EU
has rightfully focused much attention on the religious freedoms of
non-Muslim religious groups, it has been virtually silent regarding the
rights of Muslims to practice their faith. As Members of the Helsinki
Commission have consistently urged every prime minister over the past
decade, the right of women to openly manifest their religious beliefs,
including in public places and schools must be fully respected. While the
President of Turkey recently approved legislation to allow thousands of
students expelled from universities to return, including women who violated
the ban on headscarves, the ban nevertheless remains. The time has come to
end this injustice
The Armenian Orthodox Church has suffered the loss of important properties
through government expropriations. Similar to the situation of the Greek
Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox and Catholic Churches, the Armenian Orthodox
Church has lost much under current laws that enable the government to assume
direct administration of properties that fall into "disuse" when the size of
the local community falls below a certain point. In addition, the Armenian
Patriarchate continues to seek recognition of its legal status. Last
September, Turkey did adopt regulations to improve the way the size of a
religious community is gauged and to give communities with legal status the
ability to acquire new property. However, the loss of property has done much
damage to the church and the legislation does not allow for the reclamation
of properties unjustly expropriated by the State.
Protestant and evangelical groups are experiencing problems in meeting
openly, despite reforms that purportedly allow non-Muslim religious
communities to build churches and buy property. Groups without legal
standing or unable to afford these options cannot meet in other locations,
such as private homes or rented facilities, as authorities have actively
sought to close these meeting places under the pretext of zoning laws. Worse
yet, the reforms are enforced in varying degrees depending upon the will of
the local officials. I urge the government to explicitly allow for the
holding of religious meetings in rented facilities or private homes.
Turkey has a special relationship with the Turkish Jewish community dating
back to the Ottoman period, when Sephardic Jews fleeing the Spanish
Inquisition were welcomed and given refuge. After the November 2003 bombings
of two Jewish synagogues, not only did Prime Minister Erdogan publicly
denounce the bombings, but he also met with Jewish leaders, reportedly a
first in the history of the Republic. At the same time, there are disturbing
reports that "Mein Kampf," Hitler's notorious work outlining his
anti-Semitic world view, has become a bestseller in Turkey. I urge the prime
minister and other leaders in Turkey to speak out publicly against resurgent
interest in such racist materials.
In closing, Turkey has done much to earn a date to begin negotiations with
the European Union. I urge the Government of Turkey to continue its good
work and redouble efforts to fully respect the rights of individuals and
their communities to freely profess and practice their faith.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)