THE TURKISH STATE OPENS A CASE TO RECOVER THE LANDS RETURNED TO THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE IN RECENT YEARS

Agenzia Fides – April 2016

Turkey has opened a case against the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, to cancel the legal acts by which some lands were returned to the Orthodox Patriarchal See, in compliance with the laws providing restitution to minority religious communities of goods seized in the past by the Turkish authorities.

This was reported by local sources, consulted by Agenzia Fides. In particular, the intent is to re-expropriate the Ecumenical Patriarchate of a plot of 98 acres (approximately 40 hectares) in the Goksu area, and another area in Umit Tepesi, adjacent the Institute of Orthodox theology in Halki. The procedural initiative is yet another case of harassment by legal and administrative channels implemented by the Turkish institutions against the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

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