IN SR0004

Urges the Turkish government to cease discrimination against the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the spiritual center of Orthodox Christianity located in Istanbul

Calls on Turkey to grant the Ecumenical Patriarch appropriate international recognition, ecclesiastical succession rights, and the ability to train clergy of all nationalities

Highlights that Turkey closed the Theological School on Halki in 1971, confiscated nearly 94% of Patriarchate properties, and imposed a retroactive 42% tax on a charity hospital

Notes the Orthodox Christian population in Turkey declined from millions at the turn of the 20th century to fewer than 3,000 due to discriminatory policies

Directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of this resolution to the U.S. President, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, and the Turkish Ambassador to the United States