This press release is a response to a court decision in Turkey, and is to be
distributed to American and European diplomatic officials including the US
embassies in Athens and Ankara, and human rights organizations.
Hellenic Electronic Center
with 37,000 Hellenes and 34 Hellenic Organizations
as Associated Members in the US and abroad
www.greece.org
The following press statement is intended to absolutely and unequivocally condemn the decision
of a Turkish court to strike the word "Ecumenical" from the title of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
of Constantinople. The decision to bring this debate before a Turkish court not only constitutes
a violation of religious freedom and minority rights but also further harassment of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate and Turkey's Greek minority by the Turkish government.
The unacceptable and undemocratic interference of the Turkish Courts in the internal affairs of
the Ecumenical Patriarchate demonstrates the Turkish political establishment's lack of
remorse for the violent upheavals of the past, resulting in the virtual disappearance of
the Greek community from Constantinople, Imbros, and Tenedos. It is evident that the Turkish
government remains dedicated to the spirit of hatred manifested during the notorious evening
of September 6, 1955.
