AACHEN - 13 October 2005 - 110 words
Viewpoint:
Is there religious freedom in Turkey?
Otmar Oehring
Dr Oehrin is head of the human rights office at Missio, a Catholic mission based in Aachen, Germany
The European Union (EU) must make full religious freedom for all a core demand in the EU membership negotiations with Turkey which have just begun, argues Otmar Oehring of the German Catholic charity Missio in this personal commentary for Forum 18 News Service.
Dr Oehring also calls for people inside and outside Turkey who believe in religious freedom for all to honestly and openly raise the continuing obstructions to the religious life of Turkey's Muslim, Christian and other religious communities. He analyses the limited, complex and changing state of religious freedom in the country. In particular, he notes that Christians of all confessions, devout Muslim women, Muslim minorities, and other minority religions face official obstacles in practicing their faith and (in the case of non-Muslims) strong social hostility.
To read the full article see: http://www.forum18.org
© Independent Catholic News 2005
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