US criticizes Turkey of anti-Semitism, Halki seminary. (depends on "reciprocal measures" from neighboring Greece)

The 2013 International Religious Freedom Report, which is conducted by the U.S. State Department, has criticized Turkey over a rise in anti-Semitism in the country and the status of the Halki seminary.

The fresh report on 2013 events quoted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as saying that some Jewish groups were behind the Gezi Park protests that shook the country last summer.


“In June and July, in response to the Gezi Park anti-government protests, Prime Minister Erdoğan and several senior government officials repeatedly and publicly blamed ‘shadowy’ international groups for the unrest, which included an ‘international Jewish conspiracy,’ the ‘interest-rate lobby,’ and ‘the Rothschilds.’ In July, Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay blamed the ‘Jewish diaspora’ for the unrest,” the report said, adding that statements by senior political leaders were accompanied by anti-Semitic reports and commentaries made to media outlets “friendly to the government.”

The chief rabbi and the Jewish community board issued a joint press release condemning statements blaming Jewish groups for the unrest.

“Many attributed anti-Semitic graffiti and threats to events in the Middle East and anti-Semitic rhetoric by Prime Minister Erdoğan and other government officials. Local authorities continued to work with community leaders and synagogue officials to protect Jewish places of worship,” the press release said.
Halki seminary not reopened

The government has still not clarified the legal authority under which the Greek Orthodox Halki seminary could reopen after being closed for more than 40 years, according to the report that is undersigned by the State Secretary John Kerry.

Erdoğan has said the re-opening of the Theological School of Halki, the Orthodox Church’s most important seminary, depends on reciprocal measures from neighboring Greece in improving the rights of Muslims in its country.....................http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-criticizes-turkey-of-anti-semitism-halki-seminary.aspx?pageID=238&nID=69761&NewsCatID=359
29/7/14
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Related:

• AKP official: Halki Seminary will remain closed until the mosque in Athens opened. -Turkey has been insistent on reciprocity on the issue

• Δυσαρέσκεια της Κομισιόν για την τουρκική στάση στο θέμα της Χάλκης

• ΥΠΕΞ: Απάντηση Αντιπροέδρου της Κυβέρνησης και ΥΠΕΞ σε ερώτηση σχετικά με αναφορές Τούρκου Πρωθυπουργού σε «προϋποθέσεις» για την επαναλειτουργία της Θεολογικής Σχολής της Χάλκης

• Δύο τζαμιά και εκλογή μουφτή ζητά η Τουρκία αντάλλαγμα για τη Χάλκη. -«Μας εμπαίζουν οι ελληνικές κυβερνήσεις», τόνισε ο Ερντογάν