[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H8912-H8913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE ANCIENT CHRISTIAN HERITAGE IN TURKEY

  (Mr. SARBANES asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened to report that the ancient 
Christian heritage in Turkey is being threatened with extinction.
  When a government compromises the right of its citizens to peaceably 
assemble, the right of expression, and the right of independent 
thought, the people of such a country are not fully free. When a 
government takes the property of citizens without just compensation and 
due process of law, the people of that country are not free. And when a

[[Page H8913]]

government discriminates against citizens on account of their religion 
and ethnic origins, again, freedom is denied.
  While Turkey has taken some positive steps in recent times, freedom 
is not a matter of half measures. Our NATO ally must unequivocally and 
zealously defend the individual liberties of all its citizens.
  I support passage of House Resolution 306 to urge the Republic of 
Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated 
church properties.

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