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ISTANBUL'S ARMENIANS TAKE ISSUE OF ELECTING NEW PATRIARCH TO THE COURTS
epress.am
09.30.2011 15:26
The civil hearings of the lawsuit launched by lawyers from Istanbul's
Armenian community vs. the Turkish state were held in Istanbul on
Sept. 29.
As reported by the Epress.am correspondent in Istanbul, the case
refers to the elections of the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople
(Istanbul). Due to the current Patriarch's poor health, the Armenian
community wanted to elect a new Patriarch. Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople Mesrob Mutafyan has been suffering from dementia for
several years and is unable to perform his duties.
In 2 years, the Armenian community gathered 6,000 signatures, appealing
to Turkish authorities to organize elections for a new patriarch -
which apparently they are able to do, according to Ottoman rules
dating from 1863.
The Turkish state denied this request, stating that as long as Mesrob
II remains alive, a new patriarch cannot be elected.
As a result, the Patriarchate electoral committee decided to take the
issue to court to assert their right to elect a new patriarch. The
first hearings took place yesterday with the presence of several
Armenian attorneys. Spokesperson for the attorneys Sebuh Aslangil said
that's a pity that they are forced to take the issue up in court but
the community needs to elect a new patriarch.
The committee of Armenian attorneys have declared that they're against
Turkey's intervention. They are currently awaiting the court's ruling.
From: A. Papazian
epress.am
09.30.2011 15:26
The civil hearings of the lawsuit launched by lawyers from Istanbul's
Armenian community vs. the Turkish state were held in Istanbul on
Sept. 29.
As reported by the Epress.am correspondent in Istanbul, the case
refers to the elections of the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople
(Istanbul). Due to the current Patriarch's poor health, the Armenian
community wanted to elect a new Patriarch. Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople Mesrob Mutafyan has been suffering from dementia for
several years and is unable to perform his duties.
In 2 years, the Armenian community gathered 6,000 signatures, appealing
to Turkish authorities to organize elections for a new patriarch -
which apparently they are able to do, according to Ottoman rules
dating from 1863.
The Turkish state denied this request, stating that as long as Mesrob
II remains alive, a new patriarch cannot be elected.
As a result, the Patriarchate electoral committee decided to take the
issue to court to assert their right to elect a new patriarch. The
first hearings took place yesterday with the presence of several
Armenian attorneys. Spokesperson for the attorneys Sebuh Aslangil said
that's a pity that they are forced to take the issue up in court but
the community needs to elect a new patriarch.
The committee of Armenian attorneys have declared that they're against
Turkey's intervention. They are currently awaiting the court's ruling.
From: A. Papazian