US Congress urged to vote on Turkey Christian churches accountability act

10:56, 7 October 2014

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian National Committee of America launched a national campaign on returning the Armenian churches in Turkey. It appeals to the Armenians to unite and call the House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy on National Call-In Day - October 7th urging him to promote religious freedom by scheduling a vote on H.R.4347, the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act, providing for the return of the Armenian churches to the real owners, Armenpress reports.

H.R.4347 is a bipartisan religious freedom bill that calls upon the Administration to report annually to Congress about Turkey's progress in returning stolen Christian properties. H.R.4347 represents a principled and practical American stand for the right of Christians in present-day Turkey to practice their faith in their own houses of worship.

H.R.4347 enjoys broad bipartisan support. It was introduced by Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

On June 26th, after an extensive mark-up, it was overwhelmingly adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee. It builds upon H.Res.306, which was adopted by the House of Representatives on December 13, 2011.

H.R.4347 is consistent with the spirit of recent public statements by President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary of State Kerry calling for Turkey to restore religious properties.

The Turkish Embassy has essentially been alone in aggressively attacking H.R.4347, reflecting newly elected Turkish President Recep Erdogan's growing intolerance and discrimination toward Christians, Jews, and other ethnic and religious minorities.

During the June 26th mark-up of H.R.4347 only two Committee members voiced reservations. Notably, the Committee overwhelmingly rejected an unfriendly amendment to weaken this religious freedom measure, but even this amendment supported the basic premise that the Turkey needs to do more to return Christian churches and other properties.

This bipartisan legislation has been approved at the Committee level and is awaiting a decision by the House leadership to bring it to the floor for an up-or-down vote. Congressional leadership is urgently needed to stop this destruction and secure the return of stolen Armenian, Greek, Assyrian and other church properties, in Turkey and the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.

With the passing of every year, act of desecration and official disregard further erase the once rich Christian religious heritage within Turkey's borders.

The timely adoption of H.R.4347 is needed to help communicate the depth of America's commitment to religious freedom to the newly elected President of Turkey, Recep Erdogan, who won office, in large part, by fostering domestic intolerance, flaunting his challenge to U.S. regional interests, and undermining the security our regional allies.

As we approach the 100th anniversary of Ottoman Turkey's genocide against its Christian minorities, the U.S. Congress should take meaningful steps to defend the rights of the remaining Christians in Turkey.

This legislation does not call for any change to official policy or impose any sanctions. It simply calls for the Administration to provide Congress with reliable information.

The language of H.R.4347 does note that the Turkish government has made efforts in recent years to return a few church properties, but clearly much more than these few token acts are needed, since the vast majority of Christian holy sites continue to be held by the Turkish Government or by third parties.

US Congress urged to vote on Turkey Christian churches accountability act | ARMENPRESS Armenian News Agency

US Congress urged to vote on Turkey Christian churches accountability act

Copyright © 2024 ARMENPRESS

About agency