Darvish Intelligence: The Suppression of Christian Church Construction in Turkey

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

The Suppression of Christian Church Construction in Turkey

Turkey, a nation straddling the boundaries of East and West, has long been a crucible for religious and cultural convergence. However, the country’s stance on religious freedom, particularly concerning its Christian minority, reveals a troubling paradox. While Turkey permits Christians to build homes, it imposes stringent restrictions on the construction and restoration of churches. This essay explores the implications of these policies, shedding light on the broader context of religious freedom in Turkey.

Historical Context

The Anatolian peninsula, modern-day Turkey, has been a cradle of Christianity since its inception. The region is home to significant biblical sites and was a center of early Christian thought and practice. However, the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and the subsequent rise of the Ottoman Empire marked a turning point, relegating Christians to a dhimmi status under Islamic rule. Although the secularization efforts of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the early 20th century aimed to transform Turkey into a modern, secular state, the legacy of discrimination against religious minorities persisted.

Current Legal and Social Landscape

Despite Turkey’s official stance as a secular republic, the reality for its Christian minority is starkly different. The Turkish government enforces a complex web of legal and bureaucratic hurdles that effectively prevent the construction and restoration of Christian churches. These restrictions are rooted in a broader strategy to maintain the dominance of Islam and suppress religious plurality.

Legal Restrictions:
- Turkish law requires religious communities to obtain permission from multiple governmental agencies to build or restore places of worship. This process is often drawn out, opaque, and fraught with arbitrary rejections.
- The zoning laws are selectively enforced to prevent the establishment of new churches. In contrast, the construction of mosques is frequently supported and expedited by the government.
Bureaucratic Hurdles:
- Even when permissions are granted, local authorities may impose additional requirements or delay projects indefinitely. This bureaucratic red tape discourages Christian communities from pursuing construction projects.
- The restoration of historical churches is similarly obstructed. Many ancient Christian sites are in disrepair, yet the government restricts access and denies permits for restoration under the guise of archaeological preservation or security concerns.
Social Pressures:
- Social attitudes towards Christians in Turkey compound these legal and bureaucratic challenges. Christians often face societal discrimination and hostility, which further impedes their ability to practice their faith freely.
- Instances of vandalism and attacks on existing churches are not uncommon, and the perpetrators are rarely held accountable, creating an environment of fear and insecurity for Christian communities.

The Paradox of Housing Permissions

In contrast to the stringent restrictions on church construction, Christians in Turkey are permitted to build houses. This policy appears to be a superficial gesture of tolerance, allowing the government to claim it supports religious freedom while maintaining control over religious expression. By allowing Christians to build homes but not places of worship, the Turkish government effectively contains the visibility and influence of Christianity. Houses do not serve the same communal and symbolic functions as churches; they are private spaces, whereas churches are public expressions of faith and community cohesion.

International and Domestic Responses

The international community, including human rights organizations and foreign governments, has repeatedly criticized Turkey for its treatment of religious minorities. Reports by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and the European Commission have highlighted the systematic discrimination against Christians and other religious minorities in Turkey. Domestically, Christian communities continue to advocate for their rights, often at great personal risk. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, one of the most significant centers of Orthodox Christianity, has been particularly vocal in its calls for religious freedom and property rights.

Conclusion

Turkey’s policies towards its Christian minority reflect a broader strategy to maintain Islamic dominance and suppress religious diversity. By allowing the construction of houses but not churches, the Turkish government creates a facade of tolerance while effectively undermining the religious freedom of Christians. This paradoxical approach serves to marginalize and contain Christianity, ensuring it remains a private rather than a public faith. For Turkey to truly embrace the principles of secularism and religious freedom, it must dismantle these discriminatory policies and allow Christians to build and restore their places of worship without fear of retribution.