Tweet
Sunday's Zaman , Turkey
Sept 19 2010
`No cross on Akdamar as wrong as Europe's minaret ban'
Not allowing a cross at the historic Armenian church on Akdamar
Islandin the eastern Turkish province of Van, which today has been
opened for a religious service for the first time in 95 years, would
be as wrong as the ban imposed by some European countries on the
construction of new minarets, a senior government official has said.
Upon a proposal by the Van Governor's Office and approval of the
Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, the church will host a religious
worship once a year, and the first ritual takes place today.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy leader Hüseyin �elik
said, in an exclusive interview with Sunday's Zaman, that the debates
on the need for a cross on the church are wrong.
`A ban on a cross on the church would be as wrong as the ban on
minarets in Europe. When the construction of minarets issue was made
the subject of a referendum in Europe and when the public disapproved
of the construction of minarets in the referendum, we were very
saddened and disturbed. It is out of the question for us to act the
same way,' Ã?elik said.
In 2009, Swiss voters shocked the world and surprised their pollsters
by approving a ban on the construction of minarets, the most symbolic
element of Islamic architecture, in Switzerland.
More than 57 percent of Swiss voters and 22 out of 26 cantons -- or
provinces -- voted in favor of the minaret ban, which led to great
disappointment in many Muslim countries, including Turkey, with regard
to respect for religious diversity in Europe.
Noting that the 900-year-old Church of the Holy Cross is of as great a
value for humanity as Ephesus or Pergamum, Ã?elik said what a crescent
means for Muslims is the same as what a cross means for Christians.
`Just as important as the elements of our mosques, a cross is that
important, as an inseparable element of a church. This issue is so
clear that it requires our empathy. Not solving the problem of the
absence of a cross on Akdamar would be as wrong as preventing a
crescent in a mosque. The existence of an integral part of the church,
the cross, does not make us lose anything, and its absence does not
make us win anything,' explained Ã?elik.
He also suggested that religious services be held in the church on
Akdamar Island throughout the year.
Many believe a religious service at the historic church, which is now
a state museum, could be a symbol of reconciliation between Turkey and
Armenia, two neighbors bitterly divided over history and the fate of
the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region
Ã?elik underlined that the scope of religious freedoms in Turkey should
expand with the progress of democracy and that a reform package, which
was approved in a referendum on Sunday, will expand the scope of
freedom of religion, thought and expression, in addition to expanding
the scope of fundamental rights and freedoms.
Around 58 percent of Turks voted in favor of a 26-article
government-sponsored constitutional reform package on Sept. 12, which,
according to many, will bring Turkish democracy and the judiciary
closer to EU standards.
Noting that restrictions on religious freedoms are a legacy of the
single-party era in Turkey, Ã?elik said: `Religious freedoms of pious
citizens of this country have been restricted for years just like the
freedoms of non-Muslims. They were victimized and `otherized.' The
totalitarian mentality of the single-party era also victimized and
`otherized' Kurds and Alevis. The AK Party's conservatism is not one
that restricts freedoms; to the contrary, it is one that expands
freedoms. Just as we say zero tolerance to torture, we say zero
tolerance to all the obstacles confronting freedom of religion and
thought.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head of Religious Affairs: We support expansion of freedoms
Religious Affairs Directorate President Ali BardakoÄ?lu stated that
places of worship complement freedom of religion. `We are in favor of
expansion of freedoms. Just as church and cross will not Christianize
Turkey, minaret and crescent will not Islamize a Christian country,'
he said.
Stressing that people's need for places of worship should be met
regardless of their race, color, religion or geography, BardakoÄ?lu
said he was of the view that the need for a place of worship for
believers no matter in which country they live should be met.
He said he welcomes the holding of religious services and the placing
of religious symbols in places of worship.
`At the Religious Affairs Directorate, we support tolerance for people
from various views. We support expansion of freedoms. Turkey does not
deserve to be seen as a country where religious freedoms are
restricted. Turkey will not be harmed due to the opening of churches
or other places of worship. We have places of worship in Rhodes,
Western Thrace and Macedonia that are waiting to be opened for
religious service. Meeting the demands of Muslims for the opening of
their places of worship there will not cause harm to anybody. To the
contrary, it will make a big contribution to societal peace,' said
BardakoÄ?lu.
19 September 2010, Sunday
ALI ASLAN KILIÃ? ANKARA
From: A. Papazian
Sept 19 2010
`No cross on Akdamar as wrong as Europe's minaret ban'
Not allowing a cross at the historic Armenian church on Akdamar
Islandin the eastern Turkish province of Van, which today has been
opened for a religious service for the first time in 95 years, would
be as wrong as the ban imposed by some European countries on the
construction of new minarets, a senior government official has said.
Upon a proposal by the Van Governor's Office and approval of the
Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, the church will host a religious
worship once a year, and the first ritual takes place today.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy leader Hüseyin �elik
said, in an exclusive interview with Sunday's Zaman, that the debates
on the need for a cross on the church are wrong.
`A ban on a cross on the church would be as wrong as the ban on
minarets in Europe. When the construction of minarets issue was made
the subject of a referendum in Europe and when the public disapproved
of the construction of minarets in the referendum, we were very
saddened and disturbed. It is out of the question for us to act the
same way,' Ã?elik said.
In 2009, Swiss voters shocked the world and surprised their pollsters
by approving a ban on the construction of minarets, the most symbolic
element of Islamic architecture, in Switzerland.
More than 57 percent of Swiss voters and 22 out of 26 cantons -- or
provinces -- voted in favor of the minaret ban, which led to great
disappointment in many Muslim countries, including Turkey, with regard
to respect for religious diversity in Europe.
Noting that the 900-year-old Church of the Holy Cross is of as great a
value for humanity as Ephesus or Pergamum, Ã?elik said what a crescent
means for Muslims is the same as what a cross means for Christians.
`Just as important as the elements of our mosques, a cross is that
important, as an inseparable element of a church. This issue is so
clear that it requires our empathy. Not solving the problem of the
absence of a cross on Akdamar would be as wrong as preventing a
crescent in a mosque. The existence of an integral part of the church,
the cross, does not make us lose anything, and its absence does not
make us win anything,' explained Ã?elik.
He also suggested that religious services be held in the church on
Akdamar Island throughout the year.
Many believe a religious service at the historic church, which is now
a state museum, could be a symbol of reconciliation between Turkey and
Armenia, two neighbors bitterly divided over history and the fate of
the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region
Ã?elik underlined that the scope of religious freedoms in Turkey should
expand with the progress of democracy and that a reform package, which
was approved in a referendum on Sunday, will expand the scope of
freedom of religion, thought and expression, in addition to expanding
the scope of fundamental rights and freedoms.
Around 58 percent of Turks voted in favor of a 26-article
government-sponsored constitutional reform package on Sept. 12, which,
according to many, will bring Turkish democracy and the judiciary
closer to EU standards.
Noting that restrictions on religious freedoms are a legacy of the
single-party era in Turkey, Ã?elik said: `Religious freedoms of pious
citizens of this country have been restricted for years just like the
freedoms of non-Muslims. They were victimized and `otherized.' The
totalitarian mentality of the single-party era also victimized and
`otherized' Kurds and Alevis. The AK Party's conservatism is not one
that restricts freedoms; to the contrary, it is one that expands
freedoms. Just as we say zero tolerance to torture, we say zero
tolerance to all the obstacles confronting freedom of religion and
thought.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head of Religious Affairs: We support expansion of freedoms
Religious Affairs Directorate President Ali BardakoÄ?lu stated that
places of worship complement freedom of religion. `We are in favor of
expansion of freedoms. Just as church and cross will not Christianize
Turkey, minaret and crescent will not Islamize a Christian country,'
he said.
Stressing that people's need for places of worship should be met
regardless of their race, color, religion or geography, BardakoÄ?lu
said he was of the view that the need for a place of worship for
believers no matter in which country they live should be met.
He said he welcomes the holding of religious services and the placing
of religious symbols in places of worship.
`At the Religious Affairs Directorate, we support tolerance for people
from various views. We support expansion of freedoms. Turkey does not
deserve to be seen as a country where religious freedoms are
restricted. Turkey will not be harmed due to the opening of churches
or other places of worship. We have places of worship in Rhodes,
Western Thrace and Macedonia that are waiting to be opened for
religious service. Meeting the demands of Muslims for the opening of
their places of worship there will not cause harm to anybody. To the
contrary, it will make a big contribution to societal peace,' said
BardakoÄ?lu.
19 September 2010, Sunday
ALI ASLAN KILIÃ? ANKARA
From: A. Papazian