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ENGROSSED HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 2
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Passed Legislature - 1985 Reg
State of Washington 49th Legislature 1985 Regular Session
By Representatives Addison, Niemi, Padden, Brekke and D. Nelson
Read first time 1/28/85 and referred to Committee on Rules.
TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
WHEREAS, It has been brought to the attention of this Legislative Body through the correspondence of Father Stephen Tsichlis of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Seattle, Washington, that the civil liberties of Greeks living in Turkey have been repeatedly threatened and denied; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud of its long and unyielding commitment to the pervasive extension of freedom; and
WHEREAS, The military junta headed by General Evren in Ankara has decreed that Turkish citizens of Greek descent cannot buy or sell real estate, thus creating the expectation that their homes and businesses will be confiscated; and
WHEREAS, Turkish officials recently visited the worldwide center of Orthodox Christianity, known as Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople, called Istanbul by the Moslems; in this holy place, which corresponds to the Vatican, all sacred items were registered and declared the national property of Turkey; and
WHEREAS, The famous Greek Orthodox School of Theology on the island of Halki, from which renowned religious leaders (including His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios I, and His Eminence, Archbishop Iakovos, Greek Orthodox Primate of the Americas) have graduated is now a modest high school with a Turkish principal; and
WHEREAS, Turkish law prohibits any repair work to Christian Churches, schools, businesses or homes exceeding two hundred fifty liras, or less than two dollars, without a permit; yet such permits are systematically denied to Greek Orthodox residents of the country; and
WHEREAS, There are continuous efforts to seize the income-producing properties willed by Greek Orthodox people to the famous hospital in Balukli, Istanbul, which treats all members of the community regardless of religion or nationality; and
WHEREAS, At least three hundred Greek Orthodox families were forced to flee Turkey last year because of these and other oppressive conditions; the ethnically Greek population of Turkey has dwindled from half a million at the turn of the century to fewer than five thousand; ninety-two percent of those who remain are age sixty-five or older; and
WHEREAS, The Orthodox Christians in Turkey, the Soviet bloc countries, Iran and Iraq are subjected to persecution for the practice of their faith; and
WHEREAS, Orthodox Christians in Turkey, the Soviet bloc countries, Iran and Iraq are hindered in the free exercise of their religion;
NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that President Reagan and the Congress of the United States petition the Turkish, Soviet bloc, Iranian and Iraqi governments to effect the protection of the civil liberties of Orthodox Christians.
BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.