Tweet
TURKEY SLAMS US REPORT ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS
Trend
March 22 2012
Azerbaijan
Turkey criticized a US report on religious freedoms that listed Turkey
among the world's worst violators of religious freedoms, saying it
considers the document "null and void.", Today's Zaman reported.
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the report, prepared
by the bipartisan US Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF), fails to acknowledge steps that Turkey has taken in recent
years to protect religious freedoms and minority rights. "No impartial
observer could take allegations in this report, which intentionally
turns a blind eye to the steps forward and the political will that has
constituted the basis for the reforms, seriously," the statement said.
"This report is null and void for us."
The report grouped Turkey among 15 other nations in its "countries of
particular concern" category for "systematic and egregious limitations"
of religious freedoms. The ranking was a sharp downgrade from Turkey's
less-severe status as a watch-listed country in years past.
The report also listed Tajikistan, Myanmar, North Korea, Egypt,
Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam in its "countries of particular
concern" category.
The ministry also criticized the USCIRF for failing to examine
growing Islamophobia in Europe, noting that the fundamental religious
freedoms of Muslims in Europe are being called into question by
certain politicians and that mosques are being attacked. It added
that the USCIRF report focused on only "one religion" and that its
motives were "purely political."
The report itself has been followed by controversy after five members
of the nine-member commission declared the document was published
despite their objections to its release. Five members of the USCIRF
initially agreed to group Turkey among "countries of particular
concern," but one of the commissioners, Don Argue, later changed his
mind. Even though this changed the balance of votes, Argue's position
is not reflected in the document released on Wednesday.
"This result is due to procedural issues which could have easily
been accommodated, as there was ample time to reflect this change,"
the five members who voted against grouping Turkey among countries
of particular concern said in a statement on Wednesday. "We regret
the failure of the Annual Report to accurately reflect the majority
view of commissioners with respect to Turkey," they said.
Turkey has taken steps in recent years to confront its long-standing
legacy of minority discrimination, to broaden dialogue with
non-Muslims, to repatriate confiscated property and to draft a new
constitution with a broader definition of citizenship.
Namık Tan, Turkey's ambassador to Washington, had earlier responded
to the report's criticism, saying, "Any unbiased eye will immediately
realize that that's not where Turkey belongs in the USCIRF annual
report."
Turkey's population of nearly 75 million people, mostly Muslims,
includes about 65,000 Armenian Orthodox Christians; 20,000 Jews;
15,000 Assyrians and about 3,500 Greek Orthodox Christians. The Turkish
Parliament, which is in the process of collecting views from various
groups with regards to a new constitution the country is currently
drafting to free itself from the military-designed Constitution of
1982, has asked for the suggestions of religious minorities as well.
Trend
March 22 2012
Azerbaijan
Turkey criticized a US report on religious freedoms that listed Turkey
among the world's worst violators of religious freedoms, saying it
considers the document "null and void.", Today's Zaman reported.
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the report, prepared
by the bipartisan US Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF), fails to acknowledge steps that Turkey has taken in recent
years to protect religious freedoms and minority rights. "No impartial
observer could take allegations in this report, which intentionally
turns a blind eye to the steps forward and the political will that has
constituted the basis for the reforms, seriously," the statement said.
"This report is null and void for us."
The report grouped Turkey among 15 other nations in its "countries of
particular concern" category for "systematic and egregious limitations"
of religious freedoms. The ranking was a sharp downgrade from Turkey's
less-severe status as a watch-listed country in years past.
The report also listed Tajikistan, Myanmar, North Korea, Egypt,
Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam in its "countries of particular
concern" category.
The ministry also criticized the USCIRF for failing to examine
growing Islamophobia in Europe, noting that the fundamental religious
freedoms of Muslims in Europe are being called into question by
certain politicians and that mosques are being attacked. It added
that the USCIRF report focused on only "one religion" and that its
motives were "purely political."
The report itself has been followed by controversy after five members
of the nine-member commission declared the document was published
despite their objections to its release. Five members of the USCIRF
initially agreed to group Turkey among "countries of particular
concern," but one of the commissioners, Don Argue, later changed his
mind. Even though this changed the balance of votes, Argue's position
is not reflected in the document released on Wednesday.
"This result is due to procedural issues which could have easily
been accommodated, as there was ample time to reflect this change,"
the five members who voted against grouping Turkey among countries
of particular concern said in a statement on Wednesday. "We regret
the failure of the Annual Report to accurately reflect the majority
view of commissioners with respect to Turkey," they said.
Turkey has taken steps in recent years to confront its long-standing
legacy of minority discrimination, to broaden dialogue with
non-Muslims, to repatriate confiscated property and to draft a new
constitution with a broader definition of citizenship.
Namık Tan, Turkey's ambassador to Washington, had earlier responded
to the report's criticism, saying, "Any unbiased eye will immediately
realize that that's not where Turkey belongs in the USCIRF annual
report."
Turkey's population of nearly 75 million people, mostly Muslims,
includes about 65,000 Armenian Orthodox Christians; 20,000 Jews;
15,000 Assyrians and about 3,500 Greek Orthodox Christians. The Turkish
Parliament, which is in the process of collecting views from various
groups with regards to a new constitution the country is currently
drafting to free itself from the military-designed Constitution of
1982, has asked for the suggestions of religious minorities as well.