Turkey urged to ease up on Greek Orthodox seminary

The Associated Press

AP Photo
Turkey's top Muslim cleric Mehmet Gormez, left, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I greet each other at the Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, July 5, 2012. Gormez has supported calls for the government to allow the reopening of a Greek Orthodox seminary during the first visit by a Turkish religious leader to the Patriarchate of Constantinople since 1923.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's top Muslim cleric has supported calls for the government to allow the reopening of a Greek Orthodox seminary.

Mehmet Gormez said that Thursday after meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I during the first visit by a Turkish religious leader to the Istanbul-based Patriarchate since 1923.

Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, said he hopes Halki Theological School will be allowed to reopen on Heybeliada Island near Istanbul.

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July 05, 2012

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1. Philip Vorgias wrote on July 05, 2012 10:13 AM	We have to rely on the urgings of a Muslim Cleric for Turkey to 'ease off' on it's treatment of the Patriarchate, because President Obama and SOS Hillary Clinton haven't done a god damned thing in 4 years to DEMAND the Turks respect that Patriarch and reopen Halki Seminary. Any Greek American who votes for the reelection of this Administration has to have rocks in their head.

2. LOUIS TSAKIRIS wrote on July 05, 2012 11:46 AM	You forget if Turkey allows Halki to open it must allow the Islamic schools to also open.Both Turkey and the U.S. don't want that to happen.So Obama Bush and past administrations have had same policy supporting repressing religion in Turkey

3. Philip Vorgias wrote on July 05, 2012 11:52 AM	BS, Louis! Muslim schools ARE open in Turkey. That argument is a red herring, it has no legs. President Obama hasn't stood up to PM Erdogan because he lacks the courage to do so-Bush was simply too stupid to understand. Obama and Clinton lack the moral courage to DEMAND Turkey abide by the Lausanne Treatey, in addition to EU mandates for religious freedoms. This Administration is COWARDICE PERSONIFIED!

4. Niko Seretis wrote on July 06, 2012 10:15 PM	Good point Philip. The re-opening of Islamic schools is a clever excuse on the TUrks part that they are using for not re-opening the Halki. As for Obama, I hope he loses and is exiled to Kenya!
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Tuesday, June 18, 2013 Last Update: 9:57 PM ET