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Turkish prime minister takes new initiative on Christian rights

The head of the Turkish government has ordered local officials to do more to protect the rights of Christian and other non-Muslim religious minorities, such as by returning their confiscated properties and taking action against anti-Christian groups, reports Ecumenical News International.

"Although their legal situation has begun to improve as a result of reforms, there are still problems in practice," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a decree published in mid-May. "I therefore urge all state organs to uphold the rights of the Christian and Jewish minorities, to behave with respect towards their clergy and to act decisively against all publications inciting hatred and discrimination," stated Erdogan.

The document was published on 13 May in the government's official gazette, five days after a Syriac Catholic church at Iskenderun was handed back for religious use after being used as an erotic cinema for half a century.

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TAGS: Turkey Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Christian rights persecution discrimination

[05/26/2010]

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