And he has a statement from religious minority communities in Turkey to prove it: “We as religious representatives and foundation directors of societies of different religions and beliefs, who have been settled in this country for centuries, are free to follow our beliefs and practices.”
That statement has all the signs of being coerced. The religious minorities in Turkey knew that if they didn’t sign it, they could be subjected to even harsher treatment than they’re receiving already. Over the centuries, dhimmis likewise learned to keep quiet about their plight and even praise their Muslim overlords, for fear that if they didn’t, their situation would get even worse.
It is clear that religious minorities do not enjoy religious freedom in Turkey. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), in its 2018 Annual Report, classified Turkey as a Tier 2 violator of religious freedom – a country in which religious freedom violations are systematic, ongoing, and/or egregious. The ongoing imprisonment of Pastor Andrew Brunson on false pretenses is one example. Another is the harassment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and of the Greek Orthodox Christians remaining in Turkey: the Turks closed the only Orthodox seminary in the country in 1971, hamstringing the training of new clergy, has confiscated thousands of properties belonging to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and refuses even to grant any legal identity to the Ecumenical Patriarchate as such.
But Erdogan has this statement!
“‘No problems’ with religious minorities: Erdogan,” by Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu, Anadolu Agency, August 1, 2018:
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey had no problems with religious minorities in the country.
“Turkey has no problems related to [religious] minorities. Threatening language of the U.S. evangelist, Zionist mentality is unacceptable,” Erdogan told journalists in parliament on Wednesday….
On Tuesday, in a joint declaration, Turkey’s minority community representatives — including followers of the Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches — said that people of different faiths live “freely”.
“We as religious representatives and foundation directors of societies of different religions and beliefs, who have been settled in this country for centuries, are free to follow our beliefs and practices,” the declaration read.
Tom says
“Assimilation is a crime against humanity. There is no moderate or immoderate Islam, Islam is Islam. The mosques are our barracks, The minorets are our bayonets, The cupolas our helmets, and the faithful our soldiers.” Tyyip Erdogan, President of Turkey 2008.
When Muslims are in the minority they are always screaming about human rights. When Muslims are in the majority, there are no human rights.
Tyyip is, like most Muslim leaders, fully in support of the Sharia, under which no minority group has any rights, except as second class citizens.
mortimer says
A very loud whirring noise has been reported in the vicinity of Ataturk’s tomb.
Avenger says
Ataturk was a mass murderer. He wanted a secular democracy only after the extermination of the Ottoman empires Christians. Yet people like Mortimer think he’s like our George Washington.
Rob says
Invasion and occupation of Nthn Cyprus and genocide of Christians. No-one lifted a finger which has simply emboldened the Turks.
Michael Copeland says
Turkey has no problems with religious minorities.
Turkey simply crushes them.
It is the religious minorities that have the problems.
Ernie says
Exactly Michael !
mortimer says
Statement reads: “are free to follow our beliefs and practices” … yes, but not free enough to follow them fully.
Many practices of Jews and Christians are FORBIDDEN by law and by Sharia and by the Pact of Omar.
Anyone who doesn’t know the Pact of Omar doesn’t understand Islam’s OFFICIAL PERSECUTION.
Balkan Christians know Islam from experience and must be laughing grimly at that statement.
gravenimage says
Grimly true.
gravenimage says
Erdogan: “Turkey has no problems related to religious minorities”
………………….
Is this because they butchered almost all of them a hundred years ago in the Armenian Genocide?
Of course, the surviving remnant is regularly oppressed and threatened. And under Islam the victims are not allowed to so much as complain about their persecution–hence that fawning statement from religious minority communities.
Hopefully this crap will fool no one
overman says
‘Is this because they butchered almost all of them a hundred years ago in the Armenian Genocide?’
Probably. Funnily enough, l was watching the movie ‘The Promise’ tonight (Set during the last days of the Ottoman Empire), which is quite a good portrayal of the Genocide.
gravenimage says
Thanks, overman. I haven’t seen that film yet, but have heard that it is quite good.
Sam says
Thanks. I will watch it. I am from Turkey and trust me 99% of Turks are brainwashed to believe that there was no Armenian genocide.
You can not trust any Islamic culture as concept of honesty and honor is just the opposite of what we believe in the west.
gravenimage says
They both deny the Armenian Genocide yet continue to threaten the few Christians surviving in Turkey. It is the same with Holocaust deniers threatening Jews.
Crusades Were Right says
“To whom it may concern,
The men I met in the alley at 2am did not mug me at knife-point. I gave them my wallet, phone, car-keys, etc, on an entirely voluntary basis. They did not force me to sign this note under threat of violence.
Sincerely…”
; ¬)
gravenimage says
Yep.
James Lincoln says
If Erdogan is stating that Turkey has no problems related to religious minorities, then you can be certain of only one thing:
Turkey has problems related to religious minorities.
gravenimage says
+1
Lory Darnell-Gustafson says
So pithy and clear !
Rarely says
SNL has a new writer.
Indiana Tom says
Yeah, Armenian Christians are always treated with dignity and respect. Snicker, giggle.
Keys says
Devastating comment, Jay Boo, annihilating Erdogan’s religious tolerance baloney.
He has denied Turk responsibility for the Armenian genocide.
And presently how about those Kurds – Turkey has no problems with this religious minority ?
Guess it depends on Erdogan’s meaning of “religious” – kind of like depends upon what the meaning of “is”, is.
Lydia Church says
Oh sure!
Because their solution… is just to get rid of them all!
No pesky dissent left because there are no dissenters left.
That is their form of ‘peace, harmony and tolerance.’
Sam says
“Turkey has no problems related to religious minorities”
Blatant lie! Turks have been killing Christians for centuries.
And everybody should know that by now.
gravenimage says
So grimly true. Jews are threaten in Turkey, too, as well as secularists.
gravenimage says
threatened
ronald says
Every islamic country has christians and jews problems. because they are treated as second class civilians.
Pal says
Turkish newspaper:
“80% of minorities in Turkey experience fear to express themselves freely/openly on social networks: Greeks, Armenians, Jews, Syriacs.”
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/80-percent-of-minorities-in-turkey-cannot-express-themselves-openly-survey-90624
gravenimage says
So true. And this is from a mainstream Turkish newspaper.