Reps. Maloney, Bilirakis reaction to USCIRF Recommendation to Designate Turkey as a "Country of Particular Concern"

Press Release

Today, Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) responded to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) annual report that recommends Turkey be designated as a "country of particular concern," or CPC. The USCIRF report recommends the new designation "due to the Turkish government"s systematic and egregious limitations on the freedom of religion or belief that affect all religious communities in Turkey, and particularly threaten the country"s non-Muslim religious minorities."

"That the USCIRF has recommended Turkey be designated as a "country of particular concern" underscores the need for the Turkish Government to make good on its promises and show that it is serious about making necessary reforms," said Maloney. "Turkey has not gone far enough to respect the rights and religious freedoms of religious minorities, including the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the reopening of Halki," said Maloney.

"Religious freedom is a fundamental right that Turkey has historically failed to respect," said Bilirakis. "While I appreciate Turkey's small steps towards openness, Turkey needs to follow through on its promises and recent progress as they relate to Halki and reopen the theological seminary. Moreover, Christians, Jewish and other religious minorities, need to be afforded the freedom to pray and move freely in occupied northern Cyprus."

Background:
Rep. Maloney reintroduced in the 112th Congress, along with Hellenic Caucus co-chair Rep. Bilirakis and other Caucus members, H.Res. 180, a bipartisan resolution which calls on Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by granting it the right to train clergy of all nationalities, not just Turkish nationals, and respecting the human rights and property rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

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