The Hellenic Diaspora condemns in the strongest possible terms the callous behavior of the Turkish Government to give to the Muslim cleric permission to recite the Quran in the edifice which has been the holy emblem of Orthodox Christianity since it became a museum in 1935, to be accessible to all.
We are calling for the good offices of the Honorable John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, and for all political figures of our country, to condemn the provocative act. It is obvious that the Government of Turkey is testing international limits for conducting non-Orthodox services in Hagia Sophia in defiance of world opinion.
Such acts indicate bigotry and ultra-nationalism, using religion as the tool. In addition, such deeds disregard common decency, using a monument of World Heritage for desperate political means.Turkish citizens should not be surprised that minorities feel as second-class citizens in a country that aspires to become member of the European Union. Such provocations clash directly with the Kemal Ataturk vision of a “European” Turkey!
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