PM defends religious minorities

The head of the Turkish Government has defended his country’s Christian and Jewish minorities, and warned nationalists against attempting to “exclude them from national life”, writes Jonathan Luxmoore.

“These are true children of our country – they didn’t come from abroad and they’re not going abroad,” said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. “Anyone trying to force a distinction between proper citizens and second-class citizens is placing an explosive charge under the very foundations of our state.”

Speaking at an Ankara meeting with non-Muslim religious leaders, Mr Davutoglu said a “new approach”, pioneered by the Islamist-led Government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had brought an end to anti-minority discrimination. “There have been dark chapters in Turkish history, and we shouldn’t refrain from facing up to these experiences,” the premier added. “But a common culture should now be formed in which people share pains and joys together, instead of just remembering griefs and sorrows. It’s now in our hands to build a fine future together.”

Religious minorities have long complained of being denied rights in Turkey, most of whose 80 million people are Sunni Muslim. In his visit last November, the Pope appealed for greater tolerance for Christian groups, including the Catholic Church, which has seven dioceses and apostolic vicariates in the country, with 54 parishes.

The premier’s office said this month that Mr Erdogan and Mr Davutoglu had held 14 meetings with non-Muslim leaders since 2009 as part of “democratisation”, and the Government was currently allowing construction of 11 Catholic and Orthodox churches  and several Jewish synagogues.