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INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS REPORT OF 2011
Anadolu Agency (AA)
July 30, 2012 Monday
Turkey
U.S. Department of State made public its 2011 International Religious
Freedoms report. WASHINGTON In the section on Turkey, the report drew
attention to the Turkish government's steps to facilitate the return
of property to minority foundations. "The constitution and other laws
and policies protect religious freedom, and in practice, the Turkish
government generally respected religious freedom," the report said.
"However, some constitutional provisions restricted this right. The
government's actions demonstrated a trend of improving respect for and
protection of the right to religious freedom. Notably, the government
issued a decree facilitating the return of or compensation for property
confiscated from religious community foundations in previous decades,"
the report stated. "The government continued to impose limitations
on Muslims and other religious groups, including restrictions on
Muslim religious expression in government offices for the stated
reason of preserving the "secular state," the report underlined. "The
Turkish government did not clarify the legal authority under which
the Greek Orthodox Halki seminary could reopen after being closed for
40 years. Some religious groups also faced restrictions on freedom of
worship, difficulties in registration with the government, property
ownership, and the training of their followers and clergy. Although
engaging in religious speech and persuasion are legal, some Muslims,
Christians, and Baha'is faced restrictions and occasional harassment
for alleged proselytizing or providing religious instruction to
children," the report indicated.
U.S. "Embassy and consulate officials, as well as frequent government
visitors, took close interest in religious freedom in the country.
During the year, embassy and consulate representatives met frequently
with government officials and representatives of religious groups
to discuss matters related to religious freedom, including legal
reforms aimed at lifting restrictions on religious groups and property
restitution issues," the report noted. "During the year, the government
as well as local municipalities took steps to improve religious
freedom. Notably, the government allowed community foundations to
regain property that had been confiscated in previous decades and
allowed certain new community foundations to be formed," the report
stressed. "As happened in 2010, the government again permitted annual
religious worship services to be held in religiously significant
sites that had previously been converted to state museums, such as
Sumela Monastery near Trabzon, Akdamar Church near Van, St.
Peter's Church in Antakya, St. Nicholas' Church near Demre, and
the House of the Virgin Mary near Selcuk. Some municipal leaders
called for these sites to be opened to worship more frequently," the
report said. "The municipality of Diyarbakir contributed support and
a third of the money to the renovation of St. Giragos, an abandoned
Armenian church in the city. Several municipalities around the country
initiated plans to convert former churches, which had been standing
abandoned or used as commercial venues, to cultural centers or museums
with an emphasis on the religious significance of the building," the
report stated. "As of July, graduates of imam hatip schools no longer
faced an automatic minimal reduction in their university entrance
examination grades if they applied for university programs other
than theology, making it easier for them to study in any program they
wish," the report emphasized. "In December, the government officially
commemorated the Alevi holy day of Ashura for the first time," the
report stressed. "In December, the General Directorate of Foundations
(GDF) established a Jewish Foundation in Izmir, the first new religious
community foundation," the report also said.
Anadolu Agency (AA)
July 30, 2012 Monday
Turkey
U.S. Department of State made public its 2011 International Religious
Freedoms report. WASHINGTON In the section on Turkey, the report drew
attention to the Turkish government's steps to facilitate the return
of property to minority foundations. "The constitution and other laws
and policies protect religious freedom, and in practice, the Turkish
government generally respected religious freedom," the report said.
"However, some constitutional provisions restricted this right. The
government's actions demonstrated a trend of improving respect for and
protection of the right to religious freedom. Notably, the government
issued a decree facilitating the return of or compensation for property
confiscated from religious community foundations in previous decades,"
the report stated. "The government continued to impose limitations
on Muslims and other religious groups, including restrictions on
Muslim religious expression in government offices for the stated
reason of preserving the "secular state," the report underlined. "The
Turkish government did not clarify the legal authority under which
the Greek Orthodox Halki seminary could reopen after being closed for
40 years. Some religious groups also faced restrictions on freedom of
worship, difficulties in registration with the government, property
ownership, and the training of their followers and clergy. Although
engaging in religious speech and persuasion are legal, some Muslims,
Christians, and Baha'is faced restrictions and occasional harassment
for alleged proselytizing or providing religious instruction to
children," the report indicated.
U.S. "Embassy and consulate officials, as well as frequent government
visitors, took close interest in religious freedom in the country.
During the year, embassy and consulate representatives met frequently
with government officials and representatives of religious groups
to discuss matters related to religious freedom, including legal
reforms aimed at lifting restrictions on religious groups and property
restitution issues," the report noted. "During the year, the government
as well as local municipalities took steps to improve religious
freedom. Notably, the government allowed community foundations to
regain property that had been confiscated in previous decades and
allowed certain new community foundations to be formed," the report
stressed. "As happened in 2010, the government again permitted annual
religious worship services to be held in religiously significant
sites that had previously been converted to state museums, such as
Sumela Monastery near Trabzon, Akdamar Church near Van, St.
Peter's Church in Antakya, St. Nicholas' Church near Demre, and
the House of the Virgin Mary near Selcuk. Some municipal leaders
called for these sites to be opened to worship more frequently," the
report said. "The municipality of Diyarbakir contributed support and
a third of the money to the renovation of St. Giragos, an abandoned
Armenian church in the city. Several municipalities around the country
initiated plans to convert former churches, which had been standing
abandoned or used as commercial venues, to cultural centers or museums
with an emphasis on the religious significance of the building," the
report stated. "As of July, graduates of imam hatip schools no longer
faced an automatic minimal reduction in their university entrance
examination grades if they applied for university programs other
than theology, making it easier for them to study in any program they
wish," the report emphasized. "In December, the government officially
commemorated the Alevi holy day of Ashura for the first time," the
report stressed. "In December, the General Directorate of Foundations
(GDF) established a Jewish Foundation in Izmir, the first new religious
community foundation," the report also said.