EU report says non-Muslim communities face problems in Turkey

EU issued draft Enlargement Strategy Report on Turkey expressing concern about country’s progress in meeting political criteria for full membership in the Union. The report points out problems with the freedoms of expression, assembly and seeking a political solution to the Kurdish issue. Several provisions are related to the rights of the Armenian community.

The document says non-Muslim communities of Turkey face several problems, including restrictions on the training of clergy.

The report said the Armenian Patriarchate’s proposal to open a university department for the Armenian language and clergy remained pending for a fifth year. Personal documents such as identity cards include information on religion, leading to some discriminatory practices or harassment by local officials of persons who converted from Islam to another religion and thereafter sought to amend their ID cards. (continue reading...)