In an attempt to further restrict religious freedom President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has taken control of the last six Christian churches in the wartorn south-eastern region of Turkey and made them state property.
According to the World Watch Monitor, the order to seize the churches was made last month by Erdogan’s Council of Ministers who claimed they intended to rebuild and restore the historical centre of Diyarbakir, which has been partially destroyed by 10 months of urban conflict between government forces and militants from the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK).
The structures seized in the city included Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches, one of which is over 1,700 years old.
The report notes that now, the churches will be run exclusively by the government – in a country where about 98 percent of the population is Muslim.
Local Christians are infuriated by the seizures and are threatening to take legal action against the decision. Ahmet Guvener, the pastor of Diyarbakir Protestant Church, said: “The government didn’t take over these pieces of property in order to protect them. They did so to acquire them.”
Diyarbakir Bar Association – which represents Christians worshipping at one of the churches, has now officially filed an appeal the government’s action.
In a statement, the group said: “Among the expropriated plots, there are structures belonging to public institutions … and places of worship and residences considered as historical and cultural heritage.
“This decision, which seems to be made by the request of the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning without any reason or justification, is unacceptable within the limits of constitutional order.”
Government leaders argue that the order to take control of the churches was not religiously motivated, pointing out that they have also occupied some historical mosques in the city.
However, PJ Media notes that unlike Christian churches, which are maintained by their congregations, all mosques in Turkey are state-backed and funded, meaning their futures are secure.
