RIGHTS
Date published: 24 September 2019 16:00
Modified On: 25 September 2019 14:59

MP PAYLAN ON MINISTRY ORDER

New Obligations for Patriarch Candidates 'Attempt to Usurp Right to be Elected'

Ahead of the election of the 85th Patriarch of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, the Ministry of Interior laid the condition that the patriarch candidates must be from Turkey. HDP MP Paylan has said, "This is an attempt to usurp the right to be elected."
Pınar Tarcan

Pınar Tarcan
New Obligations for Patriarch Candidates 'Attempt to Usurp Right to be Elected'

*Funeral of Patriarch Mutafyan (Photo: AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish

The Ministry of the Interior has issued a directive to the Patriarchate and the Enterprising Council who prepare to elect the 85th Patriarch, stipulating the condition of "being part of the class of bishops of the Armenian Patriarchate of İstanbul" to be elected.

The Enterprising Council will hold a meeting tomorrow (September 25) to evaluate the order of the ministry. Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Garo Paylan has spoken to bianet on the decision, saying that "what is done in this state cannot be called an election."

Paylan indicated that the have been many patriarch elections in Turkey and all of them were attended by Armenian clerics from around the world.

"Apart from Armenians in Turkey, there are many clerics from Sivas, Malatya, Adana, İstanbul and all of these candidates were able to participate in all elections, they had the right to be elected."

Only three candidates meet the requirements

"Now, for the first time in the history of the Republic of Turkey, a directive by the Ministry of Interior brings a new restriction to the election of the Patriarch.

"They say, 'You will choose among Armenians in Turkey.' We have only three high cleric candidates who meet these requirements.

"This directive is an attempt to usurp the right of natural candidates to be elected and we never accept it.

"It cannot be called an election in this state."

"The Armenian Patriarchate has the right to appeal the decision. In fact, when Mesrob Mutafyan was being elected 20 years ago there was a similar attempt but the enterprising committee of the time objected to the decision and the situation was corrected.

"Now the same objection must be made and this restriction must be removed by the ministry officials. Otherwise, it cannot be called an election.

"The climate of fear affects minorities"

"I will talk about this matter in parliament, as well as initiatives by talking to government officials," he said, adding that he will submit a parliamentary question tomorrow.

"But it is important that the Armenian society and all political parties, all democrats of Turkey to embrace the Armenian Patriarch ballot box.

"The government creates a climate of fear, and especially minority peoples may be more affected by this climate.

"In this sense, the Armenian community should not be left alone against this usurpation of rights. We expect the support of the greater community on this issue. "

The patriarch election crisis

  • Former Patriarch Mesrop Mutafyan had been suffering health problems since 2008. The government replaced him with Aram Ateshian in 2010 because Mutafyan was unconscious in the hospital and could not perform his duties.
  • While the patriarch's severe health problems remained stable for more than 9 years, an election decision was made in October 2016 at the request of the Armenian community. In March 2017, the Karekin Bekchiyan was elected the Governor of the Patriarchate to take the Patriarchate to the elections.
  • The Ministry of Interior did not respond to a petition for the elections that were sent in August 2017. Meanwhile, Atashian did not resign despite the beginning of the election process.
  • The Governorship of İstanbul announced that proceedings regarding the election of Bekchiyan are invalid and all the decisions taken by Bekchiyan will be declared invalid. It called Bekchiyan the "so-called governor of the Patriarchate.
  • İstanbul Governorship then canceled the election of the Patriarch. Karekin Bekchiyan, who received the approval of the majority of the Armenian community, said, "The dark campaigns have reached a very ugly extent. I am afraid that this attitude will further deteriorate and even corrupt our society." After the decision, Bekchiyan left Turkey.
  • Following the death of Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan on March 8, the process began to elect the new Patriarch.

(PT/VK)

Armenian Patriarchate Armenian Patriarchate
https://bianet.org/haber/new-obligations-for-patriarch-candidates-attempt-to-usurp-right-to-be-elected-213489
2024-05-03 14:11:19