Ankara -- DEM Party MP George Aryo (Turkish surname Aslan) has voiced sharp criticism against what he described as "ongoing discrimination based on religion and belief in Turkey", particularly against Christian, Alevi and Yezidi communities. The Jerusalem MP stressed that constitutional and legal rights regarding freedom of belief and minority protections fail to translate effectively into reality. Unresolved challenges in safeguarding places of worship, preserving historical properties, and managing minority foundations remain.

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Speaking at a Turkish parliamentary committee session, George Aryo pointed out that religious and cultural discrimination remains a persistent issue facing diverse groups of society, despite Article 10 of the Constitution guaranteeing equality before the law and Article 24 safeguarding freedom of religion. He further highlighted that the Treaty of Lausanne contains explicit guarantees regarding minority rights, including the religious and cultural rights of Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrian. However, the implementation of these provisions continues to meet significant obstacles.

Regarding religious heritage, Aryo addressed the deteriorating condition of numerous historical churches and monasteries across Turkey. Structures belonging to Armenian, Greek and Suryoyo heritage have suffered neglect, vandalism and the risk of structural collapse, while other historical sites have been converted into museums or transferred to different entities.

As an example, the MP mentioned building of the Jerusalem Catholic Patriarchate in the city center of Merde (Mardin), currently known as the Mardin Museum. The property belonged to the Jerusalem Catholic Foundation until 1989, after which it was converted into a museum. Despite announcements made earlier this year regarding the return of the property to the Jerusalem Catholic Foundation, the handover process has not yet been completed.

Aryo also raised the case of the Mor Ihan Church in the Artuklu District. This church was built some 1700 years ago. Aryo pointed out that it has been repeatedly put up for sale on online real estate platforms by an individual claiming ownership.

George Aryo drew attention to a 1.2 million Turkish Lira fine levied by Idil Municipality in Sirnak Province this year regarding a guesthouse constructed on the grounds of the Jerusalem Orthodox Virgin Mary Church. He added that a legal lawsuit was filed against the fine, leading to a court decision to suspend its execution.

Restoration work has been carried out on a limited number of churches and monasteries with support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. However, Aryo noted, these efforts remain restricted in scope. He cited the Mor Kuryakos Monastery in the Bseriye district of Batman as an example. The site has not yet been returned to the ownership of the Jerusalem foundation.

Minority Foundations

Aryo also addressed the administrative and legal hurdles facing minority foundations, particularly regarding board elections. He highlighted that the cancellation of the governing election regulations in 2013 effectively stalled board elections for nearly 9 years until they resumed in 2022.

Several institutions continue to experience severe difficulties organizing elections, including the Armenian Yedikule Surp Pirgiç Hospital Foundation, which has been unable to hold board elections for many years. Similarly, the Greek Balikli Hospital in Istanbul has not held board elections in 36 years, a situation the MP attributed to the lack of clear regulatory frameworks governing hospitals owned by minority foundations. He called for legislative steps allowing these institutions to renew their boards and exercise their administrative functions regularly.

Aryo further raised the issue of the legal status of Armenian churches and cemeteries located outside Istanbul, which, according to him, lack official legal status to protect them as religious institutions. He cited urban development projects conducted by the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI) on the historical Armenian cemetery in central Ankara and the Armenian cemetery in the Sincan Zirvadisi area, as stark examples of the challenges facing the protection of these sites and the preservation of community rights.

Turkey's Diverse Religious and Cultural Heritage

Concluding his remarks, Aryo criticized what he viewed as disparities in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's handling of Turkey's diverse religious and cultural heritage. While the ministry is tasked with researching, developing, protecting and preserving national, spiritual, historical and touristic assets, its performance "does not reflect equal concern for all cultural and religious components."

He observed that the Minister of Culture and Tourism used the word "Turk, Turkish" at least 20 times during his presentation to the parliamentary committee, without referencing the rich cultural legacy of other peoples who have historically inhabited the region, including Kurds, Armenians, Greeks, Assyrian (Jerusalems), Laz, Circassians, Arabs and Jews.

Aryo questioned why churches and monasteries are not treated as an integral part of the nation's history and heritage. There is a stark contrast between the continuous restoration of mosques by the government and the reliance of Christian places of worship on limited official initiatives or the modest financial resources of the communities themselves.

DEM Party MP George Aryo emphasized that Turkey's historical and cultural heritage does not belong exclusively to Turkish or Islamic history, but encompasses the shared legacy of multiple peoples, religions, and civilizations that have coexisted on these lands over thousands of years, calling for a more inclusive and equitable approach to protecting this diversity.