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Daily Sabah, Turkey
Jan 2 2015
Government to hold 2015's first meeting with religious communities
NURBANU KIZIL
Prime Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu is expected to hold the first official
meeting of 2015 on Friday at a luncheon with representatives of
non-Muslim communities in Turkey under the scope of raising awareness
about Islamophobia.
The meeting comes after the recent National Security Council
highlighted that racism and discrimination against Muslims and
Islamophobia is on the rise in Europe and the situation is alarming.
As part of the efforts to take action against the situation, the
meeting is expected to bring different religious leaders together to
emphasize the idea that Islamophobia and racism are unacceptable and
contrary to the teachings of all religions. Community leaders are
expected to express a common stance against Islamophobia and mosque
attacks in Europe, while they will convey messages against terrorism
and discuss the issue of the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and
al-Sham (ISIS) in the region.
Representatives from Turkey's different religious communities will
also discuss the developments and current state of events in Turkey as
well as in the world.
Greek Patriarch Bartholomew I; Aram AteÅ?yan, the Armenian Pontiff of
Armenians in Turkey; Ishak Haleva, the Chief Rabbi of Turkey; Levon
Zekiyan, the Armenian-Catholic Archbishop in Turkey and a number of
representatives from the Latin Catholic community, Assyrian Orthodox
communities and others are expected to be present at the meeting.
The President of Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs and some
ministers will also participate and discuss issues with
representatives of religious communities in Turkey.
As part of democratization efforts, the Turkish government has carried
out a number of reforms to improve the rights and freedoms of
minorities in the country. A new sense of all-encompassing identity is
being encouraged by the government, which accepts all citizens
regardless of ethnic or religious background.
The government has lifted a number of legal obstacles faced by
foundations (vakıfs) of non-Muslim communities which prevented them
from owning real property. This has resulted in the return of
significant monuments such as the Mor Gabriel Monastery in Mardin to
the Syriac community. The Greek community was also given permission to
reopen Aya Todori elementary school in Gökçeada, while the Sümela
Monastery in the city of Trabzon along the Black Sea and the Akdamar
Church in the eastern city of Van, - both of which functioned as
museums- were reopened for religious services. The Armenian community
was also given permission to build a school for the first time since
the establishment of the Turkish Republic.
http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2015/01/02/government-to-hold-2015s-first-meeting-with-religious-communities
Jan 2 2015
Government to hold 2015's first meeting with religious communities
NURBANU KIZIL
Prime Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu is expected to hold the first official
meeting of 2015 on Friday at a luncheon with representatives of
non-Muslim communities in Turkey under the scope of raising awareness
about Islamophobia.
The meeting comes after the recent National Security Council
highlighted that racism and discrimination against Muslims and
Islamophobia is on the rise in Europe and the situation is alarming.
As part of the efforts to take action against the situation, the
meeting is expected to bring different religious leaders together to
emphasize the idea that Islamophobia and racism are unacceptable and
contrary to the teachings of all religions. Community leaders are
expected to express a common stance against Islamophobia and mosque
attacks in Europe, while they will convey messages against terrorism
and discuss the issue of the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and
al-Sham (ISIS) in the region.
Representatives from Turkey's different religious communities will
also discuss the developments and current state of events in Turkey as
well as in the world.
Greek Patriarch Bartholomew I; Aram AteÅ?yan, the Armenian Pontiff of
Armenians in Turkey; Ishak Haleva, the Chief Rabbi of Turkey; Levon
Zekiyan, the Armenian-Catholic Archbishop in Turkey and a number of
representatives from the Latin Catholic community, Assyrian Orthodox
communities and others are expected to be present at the meeting.
The President of Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs and some
ministers will also participate and discuss issues with
representatives of religious communities in Turkey.
As part of democratization efforts, the Turkish government has carried
out a number of reforms to improve the rights and freedoms of
minorities in the country. A new sense of all-encompassing identity is
being encouraged by the government, which accepts all citizens
regardless of ethnic or religious background.
The government has lifted a number of legal obstacles faced by
foundations (vakıfs) of non-Muslim communities which prevented them
from owning real property. This has resulted in the return of
significant monuments such as the Mor Gabriel Monastery in Mardin to
the Syriac community. The Greek community was also given permission to
reopen Aya Todori elementary school in Gökçeada, while the Sümela
Monastery in the city of Trabzon along the Black Sea and the Akdamar
Church in the eastern city of Van, - both of which functioned as
museums- were reopened for religious services. The Armenian community
was also given permission to build a school for the first time since
the establishment of the Turkish Republic.
http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2015/01/02/government-to-hold-2015s-first-meeting-with-religious-communities