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Peninsula On-line, Qatar
Nov 10 2006
Turkish House okays EU-sought religion law
Web posted at: 11/10/2006 4:1:30
Source ::: REUTERS
ANKARA - Turkey's parliament approved yesterday a law required by the
European Union that will improve property rights of non-Muslim
religious minorities, but it is likely to fall short of EU
expectations.
Parliament approved the `religious foundations law' by 241 votes for
to 31 against after months of sometimes stormy debate and much
fine-tuning of its wording.
The law was passed a day after the European Commission published a
report on Turkey, which called for greater rights for groups such as
religious minorities, criticised a lack of reform and set a deadline
for it to open its ports to EU member Cyprus or face unspecified
consequences.
The EU had criticised the foundations law draft, saying it failed to
provide for compensation to those whose properties have already been
sold to third parties since being taken over by the state or other
entities.
Brussels has urged Ankara to create a comprehensive legal framework
that allows all religious groups unrestricted freedom to operate in
this overwhelmingly Muslim but secular country.
The main minorities affected by the law are historic Greek Orthodox,
Syriac and Armenian communities and also Protestant and Roman
Catholic congregations. The reform prompted months of debate and
stirred nationalist fears, with opposition parties suggesting it
could increase the influence of the Istanbul-based Orthodox Christian
patriarch, the spiritual head of the world's Orthodox Christians. The
EU has also expressed concern over restrictions on training of
Christian clergy in Turkey, an issue not tackled in the foundations
law.
Ankara is under EU pressure to reopen a Greek Orthodox seminary, but
has been unable to find a legal formula that both complies with
Turkish secularist principles and is acceptable to Patriarch
Bartholomew.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, sometimes wary of EU-linked reforms he
fears may weaken the Turkish nation state or its secular structure,
could still block the foundations law, but parliament would be able
to override his veto.
Nov 10 2006
Turkish House okays EU-sought religion law
Web posted at: 11/10/2006 4:1:30
Source ::: REUTERS
ANKARA - Turkey's parliament approved yesterday a law required by the
European Union that will improve property rights of non-Muslim
religious minorities, but it is likely to fall short of EU
expectations.
Parliament approved the `religious foundations law' by 241 votes for
to 31 against after months of sometimes stormy debate and much
fine-tuning of its wording.
The law was passed a day after the European Commission published a
report on Turkey, which called for greater rights for groups such as
religious minorities, criticised a lack of reform and set a deadline
for it to open its ports to EU member Cyprus or face unspecified
consequences.
The EU had criticised the foundations law draft, saying it failed to
provide for compensation to those whose properties have already been
sold to third parties since being taken over by the state or other
entities.
Brussels has urged Ankara to create a comprehensive legal framework
that allows all religious groups unrestricted freedom to operate in
this overwhelmingly Muslim but secular country.
The main minorities affected by the law are historic Greek Orthodox,
Syriac and Armenian communities and also Protestant and Roman
Catholic congregations. The reform prompted months of debate and
stirred nationalist fears, with opposition parties suggesting it
could increase the influence of the Istanbul-based Orthodox Christian
patriarch, the spiritual head of the world's Orthodox Christians. The
EU has also expressed concern over restrictions on training of
Christian clergy in Turkey, an issue not tackled in the foundations
law.
Ankara is under EU pressure to reopen a Greek Orthodox seminary, but
has been unable to find a legal formula that both complies with
Turkish secularist principles and is acceptable to Patriarch
Bartholomew.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, sometimes wary of EU-linked reforms he
fears may weaken the Turkish nation state or its secular structure,
could still block the foundations law, but parliament would be able
to override his veto.