House of Representatives calls for return of churches confiscated by Turkey

Published: Tuesday December 20, 2011

Majority Leader Cantor (L) with ANCA's Raffi Karakashian. ANCA

Washington - The U.S. House of Representatives adopted a landmark religious freedom measure, H.Res.306, calling upon Turkey to return the Christian church properties it stole through genocide, and to end its repression of the surviving members of the vast Christian civilizations that once represented a majority in the territory of the present-day Republic of Turkey, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The measure, spearheaded by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Howard Berman (D-CA) was scheduled for House consideration by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, with the support of Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Ranking Member Berman, of the Foreign Affairs Committee. House Members speaking in support of the measure included Representatives Royce, Berman, Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution lead cosponsor Adam Schiff (D-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus CoChair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Eliot Engel (D-NY). Congressional Turkey Caucus Co-Chair Ed Whitfield (R-KY) was alone in speaking out against the resolution. The measure was adopted by voice vote in the evening of December 13.

"Despite Prime Minister Erdogan's recent claims of progress on religious freedom, Turkey's Christian communities continue to face severe discrimination," explained Congressman Royce. "Today, the U.S. House of Representatives considered and adopted my legislation, which calls upon the government of Turkey to end religious discrimination, allow religious prayer and education, and return stolen church property. The United States has a strong interest in promoting religious freedom abroad."

Rep. Berman concurred, noting that, "This important resolution calls attention to Turkey's disturbing, persistent failure to respect the ancient Christian heritage of Anatolia and to treat its Christian communities as free and equal citizens. Turkey should take immediate steps to restore all confiscated church property and allow full freedom of worship and religious education for all Christian communities."

In July, Reps. Royce and Berman were joined by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) in spearheading House Foreign Affairs Committee consideration of the "Return of Churches" amendment to the State Department Authorization Bill. Their amendment was overwhelmingly adopted by a vote of 43 to 1.

"The passage of House Resolution 306 is a great victory for religious freedom around the world, and is a turning point in the Armenian people's fight for religious freedom. Respect for the full exercise of our civil rights is really central to who we are as Americans and central to the values and ideals that we promote all over the world. My home state of Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams on the principles of religious liberty and freedom and I am proud to co-sponsor the Resolution in that spirit," said Congressman David Cicilline.

The text of H.Res.306 adopted today is the same as the abridged version adopted at the committee level.

"Today's vote - over opposition from Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and, sadly, even our own American President's Administration, - represents a powerful victory for religious freedom, and also reflects the growing American and international consensus that Turkey must - starting with the return of thousands of stolen Christian churches properties and holy sites - accept its responsibilities for the full moral and material implications of a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.

Asked for comment about the legislation, State Department spokesperson said in a December 15 press briefing Victoria Nuland said that "the United States has long been an advocate of freedom of religion in Turkey, as we are in countries around the world. We have an ongoing and very robust dialogue with Turkey on these issues, including when the Secretary was in Istanbul [in early November] and during her trip over the summer.

"At that time, in August, we welcomed the decree that the Turkish Government made authorizing the return of confiscated properties to Turkey's 162 non-Muslim foundations, and we continue to urge that that be fully implemented as the best way to take freedom of religion forward in Turkey."

Reacting to the resolution Clark University professor and expert on Armenian Genocide Taner Akcam noted that both the Ottoman and republican Turkey were legally obligated to return all of the confiscated properties.

"Actually, it is the essence of the Deportation Laws and Regulations [that provided for removal of the Armenian population from its homeland] that confiscated properties or their values must be returned to rightful owners.

"According to the Ottoman Government's Regulation of 10 June 1915 article 22 openly declares that properties or their values had to be returned to their owner. The article 3 and 6 of the same regulation the entire belonging of the Churches had to be returned to Armenians. The regulation issued by Turkish Government on 15 April 1923, repeats these principles.

"It is not only the domestic law but also the international law that commits Turkey to give the properties back to their owners," Prof. Akcam added pointing to the Article 65 of the Lausanne Agreement of 1923.

"Unfortunately, most of the churches were demolished. Turkey could not keep its own promise to the Armenian people, guaranteed by domestic and international laws. I think it is a long overdue act to return these religious buildings to their owners. And I hope Turkey will give them back to Armenians without any international pressure."

Armenian Americans across the U.S. were joined by religious freedom advocates and their counterparts in the Greek, Assyrian, and Syriac communities in making thousands of phone calls to their Representatives in support of H.Res.306, following action alerts issued by the Armenian National Committee of America, American Hellenic Institute, and American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association and the American Hellenic Council.