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NON-MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN TURKEY WANT TO HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS
16:56, 17 January, 2013
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Non-Muslim communities in Turkey
have asked for municipal and state services at their funerals similar
to the services given to the country's Muslim citizens. As reports
"Armenpress" Hurriyet Daily News stated this.
Municipalities do not provide non-Muslim citizens with free services
such as allocation of a funeral car. A graveyard plot costs little
money for Muslims in municipal facilities, whereas a plot in minority
graveyards that have limited spaces may cost a fortune.
Speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News, authorities from the Istanbul
Metropolitan Municipality Cemeteries Directorate said even though they
knew the cost of graves and funeral ceremonies for non-Muslim citizens
is very high, they did not intervene. "[Non-Muslims] can afford
organizing funerals in accordance with their religions and traditions.
We do not interfere with them since we are not used to their
traditions and ceremonies. Only if they prove their conversion to
Islam with witnesses can we hold their funerals," an official from
the directorate said.
Burgazada Hagia Yanni and Samatya Hagia Nikola Greek Church Foundation
head Andon Parisyanos said the Directorate of Religious Affairs must
allocate funds to non-Muslim populations as a requirement of equal
citizenship.
"Forget about funerals, we even pay the utility bills for the
churches by our own means. However, the Directorate of Religious
Affairs meets the expenses of mosques," Parisyanos said, adding that
funeral organization companies should also be supervised.
Likewise, Garo Paylan, who is a member of the YeÅ~_ilköy Armenian
School's Executive Board, said the requirements of equal citizenship
must be implemented. "The Directorate of Religious Affairs could
allocate funds, which would be conveyed to the owners of the funeral
homes through the Patriarchate," Paylan said.
16:56, 17 January, 2013
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Non-Muslim communities in Turkey
have asked for municipal and state services at their funerals similar
to the services given to the country's Muslim citizens. As reports
"Armenpress" Hurriyet Daily News stated this.
Municipalities do not provide non-Muslim citizens with free services
such as allocation of a funeral car. A graveyard plot costs little
money for Muslims in municipal facilities, whereas a plot in minority
graveyards that have limited spaces may cost a fortune.
Speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News, authorities from the Istanbul
Metropolitan Municipality Cemeteries Directorate said even though they
knew the cost of graves and funeral ceremonies for non-Muslim citizens
is very high, they did not intervene. "[Non-Muslims] can afford
organizing funerals in accordance with their religions and traditions.
We do not interfere with them since we are not used to their
traditions and ceremonies. Only if they prove their conversion to
Islam with witnesses can we hold their funerals," an official from
the directorate said.
Burgazada Hagia Yanni and Samatya Hagia Nikola Greek Church Foundation
head Andon Parisyanos said the Directorate of Religious Affairs must
allocate funds to non-Muslim populations as a requirement of equal
citizenship.
"Forget about funerals, we even pay the utility bills for the
churches by our own means. However, the Directorate of Religious
Affairs meets the expenses of mosques," Parisyanos said, adding that
funeral organization companies should also be supervised.
Likewise, Garo Paylan, who is a member of the YeÅ~_ilköy Armenian
School's Executive Board, said the requirements of equal citizenship
must be implemented. "The Directorate of Religious Affairs could
allocate funds, which would be conveyed to the owners of the funeral
homes through the Patriarchate," Paylan said.