‘Why does the Ministry of Interior Interfere in Patriarch Election?’

Click to read the article in Turkish

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan has submitted a parliamentary question regarding the interference of the Ministry of Interior in the election of a new Armenian Patriarch of Turkey after Mesrob II Mutafyan's death on March 17, 2019.

CLICK - Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Mesrob Mutafyan Laid to Rest

Addressing a series of questions to Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, Paylan has underlined that though the Patriarch Sub-governor, which will lead the process of Patriarch election, was expected to be elected on June 27, the election has been postponed to a later date:

"However, in an official letter sent by you Ministry to the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey through İstanbul Governorship, it has been indicated that the election needs to be postponed to July 4, 2019 and no further statements have been made regarding this postponement."

'On what grounds do you interfere in election?'

Accordingly, Paylan asked Minister Soylu a series of questions including:

* On what grounds do you interfere in the date of election of Patriarch Sub-governor set by the Clerical Council of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey?

* As you may recall, a Patriarch Sub-governor election was held on February 16, 2017; however, while the clerics were still in the meeting, the election was annulled with an official letter sent by İstanbul Governorship. On what grounds and based on which regulations do your Ministry interfere in the internal affairs of Armenian Patriarchate, which is a clerical institution?

* On May 23, 2019, the Constitutional Court defined the years-long prevention of Patriarch election as "a violation of freedom of religion". Is this interference made after this verdict a continuation of this violation?

* Based on which articles of the Regulation on Armenian Nation, which has been the legal foundation of Armenian Patriarchate and Patriarch election since 1863, does your Ministry interfere in Patriarch election? (AÖ/SD)