Turkey Restores Seized Property To Non-Muslim Religious Groups

The New York Times reports that on Saturday, Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a decree returning to minority religious groups hundreds of properties that have been seized since 1936. According to AP, the decree also provides that groups will be compensated for confiscated property that has been sold to others. Erdogan announced the decree yesterday to guests at an Iftar dinner he hosted in Istanbul which was attended by representatives of over 150 Christian and Jewish trusts. The European Union-- which Turkey hopes to join-- has been pressing the country to eliminate discriminatory policies against non-Muslim religious groups, but nationalist groups in Parliament have opposed return of the seized property.  The Executive Decree bypasses Parliament. Today's Zaman has more details on the history of the property expropriations.

Turkey Agrees To Return Land To Famous Orthodox Seminary

In 2011, Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a decree returning to minority religious groups hundreds of properties that have been seized since 1936. (See prior posting.) Now according to Greek Reporter, on January 11 Turkey’s Council of Foundations agreed to return 470 acres, of forest land to Aya Triada Monastery Foundation which owns Istanbul's Greek Orthodox Halki (Heybeliada) Seminary. This is the largest expanse of property returned to a non-Muslim community since the 2011 decree. The return is particularly notable because the now-closed seminary trained generations of Greek Orthodox leaders including Patriarch Bartholomew. A push to reopen the seminary has been a high-profile religious liberty issue internationally. (See prior posting.)