Tweet
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Sept 18 2010
EU gives thumbs up to Turkey amid Orthodox mass controversy
A nationalist group gathered in front of the Hagia Sophia on Thursday
to protest a planned Greek Orthodox service. Plans for the service
were canceled in the last minute.
The European Union threw its support behind Turkey in a controversy
over attempts to hold a Greek Orthodox mass at the former basilica of
Hagia Sophia despite Turkish laws that bar any religious services
there.
At the last minute, a group of about 250 Greek Orthodox Christians
canceled its plans to hold a Divine Liturgy at Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya
in Turkish) yesterday (Friday) after statements by Turkish officials
that the planned service would not be allowed because any religious
service in Hagia Sophia is banned under Turkish law and that such a
mass could spark provocations that could in turn harm the government's
efforts to improve religious freedoms. A Turkish Foreign Ministry
official earlier said Ankara could stop the group from entering Turkey
if they pose a security threat.
Chris Spirou, the president of the US-based International Congregation
of Hagia Sophia that is behind the attempt, told the Anatolia news
agency late on Thursday that they had called off the trip after
receiving a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which he said
amounted to a ban on entering Turkey. Speaking to a Greek news agency
on Friday, he said the International Congregation of Hagia Sophia
would take the Turkish ban to the European Court of Human Rights.
But a spokesperson for Stefan Füle, the EU commissioner for
enlargement, appeared to agree with Turkish officials, saying on
Friday that religious freedom could be restricted for the sake of
public safety. `The European Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms grants the right to freedom of
thought, conscience and religion to all, and adds that such freedom
can be subject to limitations necessary in a democratic society, such
as public safety or protection of public order,' Angela Filote said in
a statement.
The Hagia Sophia served as the cathedral of Constantinople until its
conquest by the Ottoman Empire in 1453. It was then turned into a
mosque and then into a museum in 1935. Worshipping in the historic
building has been forbidden since then.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an's government has lifted curbs on
Christian worship at other sites under an EU-inspired drive to improve
human rights, namely at an Orthodox monastery in Sümela and at an
Armenian church in Van. `The Commission considers that freedom of
worship in Turkey is generally observed. The conduct of a Holy Mass in
the Sümela Greek Orthodox Monastery on August 15 this year, together
with the planned conduct of the Holy Mass in the Armenian church of
Akhdamar this coming Sunday are further testimonies of this,' Filote
said.
`Turkey is working in cooperation with non-Muslim minorities to
improve the atmosphere and address the difficulties faced by these
minorities. The Commission considers that there are still many issues
that need to be addressed to improve freedom of religion in practice;
however, these need to be addressed in a spirit of dialogue. In this
respect, such matters need to be discussed between these communities
and the Turkish authorities. The Commission supports this dialogue,
which should be carried out in a spirit of responsibility,' Filot went
on.
The International Congregation of Hagia Sophia said it was on a
mission to `re-establish Hagia Sophia as the holy house of prayer for
all Christians of the world and the seat of Orthodoxy before the
conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453.'
18 September 2010, Saturday
TODAY'S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL
From: A. Papazian
Sept 18 2010
EU gives thumbs up to Turkey amid Orthodox mass controversy
A nationalist group gathered in front of the Hagia Sophia on Thursday
to protest a planned Greek Orthodox service. Plans for the service
were canceled in the last minute.
The European Union threw its support behind Turkey in a controversy
over attempts to hold a Greek Orthodox mass at the former basilica of
Hagia Sophia despite Turkish laws that bar any religious services
there.
At the last minute, a group of about 250 Greek Orthodox Christians
canceled its plans to hold a Divine Liturgy at Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya
in Turkish) yesterday (Friday) after statements by Turkish officials
that the planned service would not be allowed because any religious
service in Hagia Sophia is banned under Turkish law and that such a
mass could spark provocations that could in turn harm the government's
efforts to improve religious freedoms. A Turkish Foreign Ministry
official earlier said Ankara could stop the group from entering Turkey
if they pose a security threat.
Chris Spirou, the president of the US-based International Congregation
of Hagia Sophia that is behind the attempt, told the Anatolia news
agency late on Thursday that they had called off the trip after
receiving a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which he said
amounted to a ban on entering Turkey. Speaking to a Greek news agency
on Friday, he said the International Congregation of Hagia Sophia
would take the Turkish ban to the European Court of Human Rights.
But a spokesperson for Stefan Füle, the EU commissioner for
enlargement, appeared to agree with Turkish officials, saying on
Friday that religious freedom could be restricted for the sake of
public safety. `The European Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms grants the right to freedom of
thought, conscience and religion to all, and adds that such freedom
can be subject to limitations necessary in a democratic society, such
as public safety or protection of public order,' Angela Filote said in
a statement.
The Hagia Sophia served as the cathedral of Constantinople until its
conquest by the Ottoman Empire in 1453. It was then turned into a
mosque and then into a museum in 1935. Worshipping in the historic
building has been forbidden since then.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an's government has lifted curbs on
Christian worship at other sites under an EU-inspired drive to improve
human rights, namely at an Orthodox monastery in Sümela and at an
Armenian church in Van. `The Commission considers that freedom of
worship in Turkey is generally observed. The conduct of a Holy Mass in
the Sümela Greek Orthodox Monastery on August 15 this year, together
with the planned conduct of the Holy Mass in the Armenian church of
Akhdamar this coming Sunday are further testimonies of this,' Filote
said.
`Turkey is working in cooperation with non-Muslim minorities to
improve the atmosphere and address the difficulties faced by these
minorities. The Commission considers that there are still many issues
that need to be addressed to improve freedom of religion in practice;
however, these need to be addressed in a spirit of dialogue. In this
respect, such matters need to be discussed between these communities
and the Turkish authorities. The Commission supports this dialogue,
which should be carried out in a spirit of responsibility,' Filot went
on.
The International Congregation of Hagia Sophia said it was on a
mission to `re-establish Hagia Sophia as the holy house of prayer for
all Christians of the world and the seat of Orthodoxy before the
conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453.'
18 September 2010, Saturday
TODAY'S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL
From: A. Papazian