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REPRESENTATIVES ROYCE AND BERMAN INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO SAFEGUARD CHRISTIAN HERITAGE AND TO RETURN CHURCH PROPERTIES
Noyan Tapan
www.nt.am
15.06.2011
(Noyan Tapan - 15.06.2011) Washington, DC - Today, House Foreign
Affairs Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Ed
Royce (R-CA) and House Foreign Affairs Full Committee Ranking Member
Howard Berman (D-CA) introduced legislation "urging the Republic of
Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated
church properties," reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly).
Ranking Member Berman stated: "We want this measure to call attention
to Turkey's disturbing, persistent failure to respect the ancient
Christian heritage of Anatolia and to treat its Christian communities
as free and equal citizens. The Erdogan administration should take
immediate steps to restore confiscated church property and allow
full freedom of worship and religious education for all Christian
communities, Armenians, Greeks, and others. There can be no serious
talk of a 'Turkish model' when the types of discriminatory policies
currently in place persist."
The Royce-Berman resolution specifically notes that Turkey remains
on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF) "Watch List" for the third straight year, and calls on Turkey
to "honor its obligations under international treaties and human
rights law" and "end all forms of religious discrimination." USCIRF's
2011 Annual Report states, in part, that "The Turkish government
continues to impose serious limitations on freedom of religion or
belief, thereby threatening the continued vitality and survival of
minority religious communities in Turkey...The government has failed
to take decisive action to correct the climate of impunity against
religious minorities..."
"We remain deeply troubled by the ongoing trend in Turkey and
its treatment of Christian communities within the country," stated
Assembly Board Member Van Krikorian. "In particular, we note that the
atmosphere of intolerance as represented in Article 301 of Turkey's
Penal Code, which punishes discussion of the Armenian Genocide,
has not improved since the tragic murder of Hrant Dink in 2007,"
continued Krikorian. "In addition, the recently issued court sentence
of six months or less for several of the individuals implicated in the
assassination of Hrant Dink hardly fits the crime and is no deterrent
at all," Krikorian concluded.
USCIRF's principal responsibilities are to review the facts and
circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and
to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of
State and Congress.
In addition, the bill urges Turkey to "allow the rightful church
and lay owners of Christian church properties," without hindrance
or restriction; to organize and administer prayer services; conduct
religious education and clerical training; and preserve, reconstruct
and repair all Christian churches and other places of worship. The
legislation also calls on Turkey to "return to their rightful owners
all Christian churches and other places of worship, monasteries,
schools, hospitals, monuments, relics, holy sites, and other religious
properties, including movable properties, such as artwork, manuscripts,
vestments, vessels, and other artifacts."
In a related development, last week, the House Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights, led by
Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Ranking Member Donald Payne (D-NJ),
held a hearing on "U.S. Foreign Policy and International Religious
Expression" wherein USCIRF Chairman Leonard Leo expressed his concern
about the erosion of religious tolerance, noted the countries of
particular concern and on the "Watch List," such as Turkey, and
concurred with Chairman Smith that there is an "uptick" in the
persecution of Christians in Turkey and the Middle East.
Noyan Tapan
www.nt.am
15.06.2011
(Noyan Tapan - 15.06.2011) Washington, DC - Today, House Foreign
Affairs Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Ed
Royce (R-CA) and House Foreign Affairs Full Committee Ranking Member
Howard Berman (D-CA) introduced legislation "urging the Republic of
Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated
church properties," reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly).
Ranking Member Berman stated: "We want this measure to call attention
to Turkey's disturbing, persistent failure to respect the ancient
Christian heritage of Anatolia and to treat its Christian communities
as free and equal citizens. The Erdogan administration should take
immediate steps to restore confiscated church property and allow
full freedom of worship and religious education for all Christian
communities, Armenians, Greeks, and others. There can be no serious
talk of a 'Turkish model' when the types of discriminatory policies
currently in place persist."
The Royce-Berman resolution specifically notes that Turkey remains
on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF) "Watch List" for the third straight year, and calls on Turkey
to "honor its obligations under international treaties and human
rights law" and "end all forms of religious discrimination." USCIRF's
2011 Annual Report states, in part, that "The Turkish government
continues to impose serious limitations on freedom of religion or
belief, thereby threatening the continued vitality and survival of
minority religious communities in Turkey...The government has failed
to take decisive action to correct the climate of impunity against
religious minorities..."
"We remain deeply troubled by the ongoing trend in Turkey and
its treatment of Christian communities within the country," stated
Assembly Board Member Van Krikorian. "In particular, we note that the
atmosphere of intolerance as represented in Article 301 of Turkey's
Penal Code, which punishes discussion of the Armenian Genocide,
has not improved since the tragic murder of Hrant Dink in 2007,"
continued Krikorian. "In addition, the recently issued court sentence
of six months or less for several of the individuals implicated in the
assassination of Hrant Dink hardly fits the crime and is no deterrent
at all," Krikorian concluded.
USCIRF's principal responsibilities are to review the facts and
circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and
to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of
State and Congress.
In addition, the bill urges Turkey to "allow the rightful church
and lay owners of Christian church properties," without hindrance
or restriction; to organize and administer prayer services; conduct
religious education and clerical training; and preserve, reconstruct
and repair all Christian churches and other places of worship. The
legislation also calls on Turkey to "return to their rightful owners
all Christian churches and other places of worship, monasteries,
schools, hospitals, monuments, relics, holy sites, and other religious
properties, including movable properties, such as artwork, manuscripts,
vestments, vessels, and other artifacts."
In a related development, last week, the House Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights, led by
Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Ranking Member Donald Payne (D-NJ),
held a hearing on "U.S. Foreign Policy and International Religious
Expression" wherein USCIRF Chairman Leonard Leo expressed his concern
about the erosion of religious tolerance, noted the countries of
particular concern and on the "Watch List," such as Turkey, and
concurred with Chairman Smith that there is an "uptick" in the
persecution of Christians in Turkey and the Middle East.