European Court Rules Turkey Violated Rights of Greek Orthodox Priests

The European Court of Human Rights. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

ISTANBUL — The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that Turkey violated the rights of two Greek Orthodox priests after they were removed from the governing boards of minority foundations in Istanbul solely on the basis of their clerical status. The judgment in Mavrakis and Others v. Turkey found breaches of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects freedom of association, read alongside Article 9 on religious freedom.

The case concerned the late Rev. Niko Mavrakis and the Rev. Corc Kasapoğlu, both Turkish citizens serving in Istanbul’s Greek Orthodox communities. Each had been elected in 2011 and 2012 to boards overseeing key institutions, including church foundations and the historic Fener Greek Boys’ High School Foundation, before being removed by Turkey General Directorate of Foundations. Authorities argued that clergy were ineligible under a secular administrative framework, but the court determined that no domestic law explicitly barred clerics from such positions.

Judges concluded that the removals were not “prescribed by law” and that the state had exceeded its authority by interfering with duly elected board members. The ruling underscored that associations preserving cultural and religious heritage are essential to democratic pluralism and minority rights. While damages were limited to 2,000 euros per applicant, the court said the principle at stake was significant for minority governance structures. The decision also noted that religious identity cannot be used as a bureaucratic basis for excluding elected representatives.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Saba congratulated a newly ordained bishop in Turkey.

Read also