Washington, DC – Congressman Howard L. Berman, senior Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, today applauded the passage of House Resolution 306, a resolution urging Turkey to return churches and other properties confiscated from its Christian minorities, and to allow those minorities full freedom of worship.

“By expropriating church properties, harassing worshippers, and refusing to grant full legal status to some Christian groups, Turkey has failed to fulfill its obligation as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which requires ‘freedom of thought, conscience, and religion,’” said Rep. Berman. “This important resolution calls upon the government of Turkey to end religious discrimination, cease all restrictions on gatherings for religious prayer and education, and return stolen church property.”

Rep. Berman introduced H. Res. 306 along with Congressman Ed Royce, and the measure garnered 41 bipartisan cosponsors. In late June, Berman offered the resolution as an amendment to the State Department Authorization bill, and it was approved by the Foreign Affairs Committee by an overwhelming vote of 43-1.

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