Ahead of the election of the 85th Patriarch of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Ministry of Interior laid the condition that the patriarch candidates must be from Turkey. HDP MP Paylan has said, “This is an attempt to usurp the right to be elected,” Bianet reports.
The Enterprising Council will hold a meeting tomorrow (September 25) to evaluate the order of the ministry.
“What is being done in this state cannot be called an election, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP Garo Paylan told Bianet.
Paylan indicated that there have been many patriarchal elections in Turkey and all of them have been attended by Armenian clerics from around the world.
“Now, for the first time in the history of the Republic of Turkey, a directive by the Ministry of Interior brings a new restriction to the election of the Patriarch,” he said.
“They say, ‘You will choose among Armenians in Turkey.’ We have only two high cleric candidates who meet these requirements.
“This directive is an attempt to usurp the right of natural candidates to be elected and we never accept it,” Paylan said.
“It cannot be called an election in this state. The Armenian Patriarchate has the right to appeal the decision. In fact, when Mesrob Mutafyan was being elected 20 years ago there was a similar attempt but the enterprising committee at the time objected to the decision and the situation was corrected,” the MP continued.
He believes that now the same objection must be made and the restriction must be removed by the ministry officials. Otherwise, it cannot be called an election.
Paylan said he will raise the issue in parliament and with government officials.
“The government creates a climate of fear, and especially minority peoples may be more affected by this climate,” he noted.
“In this sense, the Armenian community should not be left alone against this usurpation of rights. We expect the support of the greater community on this issue,” Paylan stated.
