The Dutch Christian Democrats (CDA) are outraged at a ruling by Turkey's Supreme Court authorising the expropriation of lands belonging to a Syrian Orthodox monastery. The CDA says Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal should summon the Turkish ambassador to lodge a formal protest.
Two rulings by Turkey's Supreme Court mean that municipalities near the 1600-year-old Mor Gabriel Monastery can legally seize 50 of its hectares. The monastery is the oldest and most important monastery of Turkey's Syrian Orthodox minority.
While Turkey keenly defends religious freedom for Muslims in Europe and even sends imams to the Netherlands, the CDA argues that, at home, the Turkish government flouts all international agreements regarding religious freedom. The controversy comes a year after the European Council called on Ankara to stop the expropriation of the monastery's lands.
(cl/ae)
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Persecution against Christians (in many countries ) has been going on unreported for sometime...and to think that Nederland & Germany have been courting & supporting Turkey & many others who are guilty of it.Do You really want Turkey to join The EU ?..and don't act surprised about the way they flout international agreements (like other Muslim lands) ...Don't you know that they believe it is okay to lie, steal & cheat against the infidels ? ..and do you really think the country is secular just because they claiim to be ? ...keep in mind the "flouting " .