,i  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cjef  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,may #g1 #bjba ,mrs4  
,c>olyn ,b4 ,maloney ( ,new ,york 7=    
h]self1 ,mr4 ,bilirakis1 ,mr4           
,mc,govern1 ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick1 ,ms4     
,titus1 ,mr4 ,s>banes1 ,ms4             
,malliotakis1 ,mr4 ,cicill9e1 ,ms4      
,l(gr51 & ,mr4 ,%]man7 introduc$ !      
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,=eign ,affairs  ,a ,,bill
  ,to oppose violations ( religi\s      
fre$om 9 ,turkey by ! ,gov]nm5t (       
,turkey & to safegu>d ! rights &        
religi\s fre$oms ( ! ,ecum5ical         
,patri>*ate4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act 
may be cit$ z ! ,turkey & ,ecum5ical    
,patri>*ate ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act (    
#bjba4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds !     
foll[+3  7#a7 ,! promotion & protection 
( ! univ]sally recogniz$ "r to ! fre$om 
( religion is a priority ( ,unit$ ,/ates
 =eign policy z /at$ 9 section #djb ( ! 
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act (  
#aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fddb74  7#b7 ,!   

,ecum5ical ,patri>*ate is ! spiritual   
home ( ! _w's olde/ & second l>ge/      
,*ri/ian ,*ur*4  7#c7 ,)9 !             
#b1jjj-ye>-old ,sacr$ ,see ( !          
,ecum5ical ,patri>*ate1 ! ,new ,te/am5t 
0 codifi$ & ! ,nic5e ,cre$ 0 creat$4    
7#d7 ,ecum5ical ,patri>* ,b>?olomew is  
"o ( ! _w's preem95t spiritual lead]s & 
peacemak]s repres5t+ ov] #cjj million   
,or?odox ,*ri/ians worldwide4  7#e7 ,!  
disappe>ance ( ! ,see w\ld mean ! end ( 
a crucial l9k betwe5 ! ,*ri/ian & !     
,muslim _w s9ce ! cont9u+ pres5ce ( !   
,ecum5ical ,patri>*ate 9 ,turkey is a   
liv+ te/imony ( religi\s co-exi/5ce s9ce
 #adec4  7#f7 ,! ,ecum5ical ,patri>* has
 direct jurisdiction ov] ! ,greek       
,or?odox ,ar*diocese ( ,am]ica & ?us is 
! spiritual & ecclesia/ical lead] ( its 
#a4e million adh]5ts4  7#g7 ,!          
,ecum5ical ,patri>* is1 9 a s5se1 also  
an ,am]ican spiritual lead] & %\ld be   
af=d$ ! protections ( an ,am]ican       
spiritual lead]4  7#h7 ,ecum5ical       
,patri>* ,b>?olomew 0 aw>d$ !           

,congressional ,gold ,m$al1 ! highe/    
aw>d be/[$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,congress1
 & he coord9at$ ) religi\s lead]s ar\nd 
! _w to issue a condemnation ( !        
,septemb] #aa1 #bjja1 attacks on !      
,unit$ ,/ates z an anti-religi\s act4   
7#i7 ,! ,ecum5ical ,patri>*ate has a    
record ( rea*+ out & work+ = peace &    
reconciliation among/ all fai?s & has   
fo/]$ dialogue among ,*ri/ians1 ,jews1 &
 ,muslims4  7#aj7 ,! ,ecum5ical         
,patri>*ate co-sponsor$ ! ,peace &      
,tol]ance ,conf]5ce 9 ,i/anbul :i* issu$
 ! ,bosphorus ,decl>ation t /at$1 ,a    
crime committ$ 9 ! "n ( religion is a   
crime aga9/ religion44  7#aa7 ,ecum5ical
 ,patri>* ,b>?olomew /at$ 9 ,brussels 9 
#bjjd1 ,! ,ecum5ical ,patri>*ate is a   
supranational ecclesia/ical in/itution  
''' :i* demon/rates religi\s tol]ance z 
a beautiful reality4 ,= we be> respect  
t[>d all ( our humans1 irrespective ( _!
 fai?4 ,)\t any trace ( fanaticism or   
discrim9ation on acc\nt ( diff]5ces (   
religion1 we coexi/ peacefully & 9 a _s 

t honors ea* & e human be+44  7#ab7 ,9  
#aiic1 ! ,european ,union def9$ !       
memb]%ip crit]ia = accession to !       
,european ,union at ! ,cop5hag5         
,european ,c\ncil1 obligat+ c&idate     
c\ntries to h a*iev$ c]ta9 levels (     
re=m1 includ+ /ability ( in/itutions    
gu>antee+ democracy1 ! rule ( law1 &    
human rights1 & respect = & protection (
 m9orities4  7#ac7 ,turkey's p]secution 
( religi\s m9orities violates !         
,european ,union ,*>t] ( ,fundam5tal    
,rights z well z ! ,unit$ ,nations      
,int]national ,cov5ant on ,civil &      
,political ,rights1 :i* ,turkey has     
sign$ & ratifi$1 & :i* gu>antees fre$om 
( religion4  7#ad7 ,! ,gov]nm5t (       
,turkey has fail$ to recognize !        
int]national legal p]sonality ( !       
,ecum5ical ,patri>*ate4  7#ae7 ,!       
,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey & ! gov]nm5ts ( all 
nations %\ld accord to ! ,ecum5ical     
,patri>*ate ! diplomatic rights &       
immunities "u ! ,vi5na ,conv5tion4      
7#af7 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey has &      

cont9ues to violate ! rights &          
privileges ( ! ,ecum5ical ,patri>*ate "u
 ! ,treaty ( ,lausanne ( #aibc & prior  
treaties4  7#ag7 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey 
has limit$ c&idates available to ! ,holy
 ,synod ( ! ,ecum5ical ,patri>*ate to   
,turki% nationals & r5eg$ on its        
agreem5t to reop5 ! ,!ological ,s*ool at
 ,halki1 ?us imp$+ ! tra9+ = ,or?odox   
cl]gy4  7#ah7 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey has
 confiscat$ #ge p]c5t ( ,ecum5ical      
,patri>*ate prop]ties & has plac$ a     
#db-p]c5t retroactive tax on ! ,balukli 
,hospital ( ,i/anbul :i* is op]at$ by ! 
,ecum5ical ,patri>*ate4  7#ai7 ,turkey  
has sy/ematically conv]t$ or de/roy$    
m9ority religi\s symbols & prop]ty1     
includ+ conv]t+ ! ,hagia ,sophia & ,*ur*
 ( ! ,holy ,savi\r 9 ,*ora1             
,,unesco-designat$ museums locat$ 9     
,i/anbul1 into mosques1 9 violation ( ! 
,,unesco conv5tion4  7#bj7 ,! ,european 
,c\ncil has agre$ to op5 accession      
negotiations ) ,turkey1 conditional ^u !
 cont9uation by ,turkey ( re=m processes

 to increase protection & support =     
human rights & civil lib]ties4  7#ba7   
,al?\gh ! ,con/itution ( ,turkey        
o/5sibly provides = fre$om ( religion1 !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,commission on           
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om's #bjba 
,annual ,report on ,int]national        
,religi\s ,fre$om ma9ta9s t1 ,9 #bjbj1  
religi\s fre$om conditions 9 ,turkey    
cont9u$ to foll[ a tr\bl+ trajectory4 ,9
 ,july1 ,turki% ,presid5t ,recep ,tayyip
 ,erdogan issu$ a decree conv]t+ back   
into a mosque ! fam\s ,hagia ,sophia1 a 
=m] *ur* t _h be5 s]v+ z a museum1 9 a  
move t _m d5\nc$ z divisive & ho/ile to 
,turkey's religi\s m9orities''' ,!      
gov]nm5t fur!rmore made little to no    
ef=t to address _m long/&+ religi\s     
fre$om issues & x ignor$ ! cont9u$      
t>get+ & v&alization ( religi\s m9ority 
prop]ties ?r\gh\t ! c\ntry4 ,despite    
repeat$ reque/s by religi\s m9ority     
communities = p]mission to hold bo>d    
memb] elections = non-,muslim           
f\ndations1 ! gov]nm5t did n p]mit ^?   

elections dur+ ! ye>4 ,simil>ly1 !      
gov]nm5t disreg>d$ calls = ! reop5+ ( ! 
,greek ,or?odox ,halki ,sem9>y & cont9u$
 to d5y legal p]sonality to all religi\s
 communities''' ,9 ,decemb]1 ,turkey's  
p>liam5t pass$ a law t human rights     
gr\ps w>n$ w\ld increase gov]nm5tal     
control ov] civil society1 includ+      
religi\s gr\ps1 by subject+ !m to       
int5sifi$ ov]sight & new limitations on 
onl9e fundrais+''' ,_m religi\s         
m9orities cont9u$ to feel ?reat5$ 9     
connection ) incid5ts p]petrat$ by      
non/ate actors or due to direct pressure
 f ! /ate''' ,?r\gh\t ! ye>1 au?orities 
br\ght politically motivat$ *>ges (     
blasphemy aga9/ individuals & gr\ps1    
:ile o!rs 9 (ficial positions utiliz$   
rhetoric *>act]iz$ z hate spee* t       
d5igrat$ nonreligi\s individuals &      
memb]s ( ! lesbian1 gay1 bisexual1      
transg5d]1 & int]sex 7,,lgbti7          
community4 ,religi\s sites--includ+     
places ( wor%ip & cemet]ies--7 subject  
to v&alism1 damage1 &1 9 "s cases1      

de/ruction1 :i* ! gov]nm5t regul>ly     
fails to prev5t or puni%44  7#bb7       
,accord+ly1 9 its #bjba ,annual ,report 
on ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om1 !   
,unit$ ,/ates ,commission on            
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om         
recomm5d$ t ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate include 
,turkey on ! ,u4,s4 ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's 
,special ,wat* ,li/ = engag+ 9 or       
tol]at+ sev]e violations ( religi\s     
fre$om pursuant to ! ,int]national      
,religi\s ,fre$om ,act 7,,irfa71 ! same 
recomm5dation x made 9 #bjbj4  #c4 ,s5se
 ( ,congress ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress   
t-- 7#a7 ! designation ( ,turkey z a    
c\ntry on ! ,special ,wat* ,li/ = sev]e 
violations ( religi\s fre$om pursuant to
 section #djb7;b77#a77;,a77iii7 ( !     
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act (  
#aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4                    
#fddb7;b77#a77;,a77iii77 w\ld be a      
p[]ful & effective tool 9--  7,a7       
highlight+ abuses ( religi\s fre$om 9   
,turkey & aga9/ ! ,ecum5ical            
,patri>*ate2 &  7,b7 9 enc\rag+         

improvem5t ) ! respect to religi\s      
fre$oms & ! rights ( ! ,ecum5ical       
,patri>*ate 9 ,turkey2 &  7#b7 !        
,presid5t %\ld1 9 accordance ) !        
recomm5dation ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates         
,commission on ,int]national ,religi\s  
,fre$om1 designate ,turkey z a c\ntry on
 su* ,special ,wat* ,li/4  #d4 ,report  
on failure to place ,turkey on !        
,special ,wat* ,li/ = engag+ 9 or       
tol]at+ sev]e violations ( religi\s     
fre$om  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z provid$ 9
 subsection 7b71 if--  7#a7 ! ,unit$    
,/ates ,commission on ,int]national     
,religi\s ,fre$om recomm5ds 9 its       
,annual ,report on ,int]national        
,religi\s ,fre$om t ,turkey %\ld be     
plac$ on ! ,special ,wat* ,li/ = engag+ 
9 or tol]at+ sev]e violations ( religi\s
 fre$om pursuant to section             
#djb7;b77#a77;,a77iii7 ( ! ,int]national
 ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act ( #aiih 7#bb    
,u4,s4,c4 #fddb7;b77#a77;,a77iii771 &   
7#b7 ,turkey is n plac$ on su* ,special 
,wat* ,li/ pursuant to su* section      

#djb7;b77#a77;,a77iii7 )9 #ij days aft] 
! date on :i* su* ,annual ,report is    
submitt$ to ,congress1  ! ,presid5t     
%all1 n lat] ?an #ij days aft] mak+ !   
det]m9ation n to place ,turkey on su*   
,special ,wat* ,li/1 submit to !        
appropriate congressional committees a  
report t conta9s a detail$ ju/ification 
!re=4  7b7 ,exception ,! ,presid5t is n 
requir$ to submit a report "u subsection
 7a7 if1 at ! "t ! report is requir$ to 
be s submitt$1 ,turkey-- 7#a7 has be5   
designat$ z a c\ntry ( p>ticul> conc]n =
 religi\s fre$om pursuant to clause 7ii7
 ( section #djb7;b77#a77;,a7 ( !        
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act (  
#aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4                    
#fddb7;b77#a77;,a772 or  7#b7 has be5   
plac$ on ! ,special ,wat* ,li/ = engag+ 
9 or tol]at+ sev]e violations ( religi\s
 fre$om pursuant to clause 7iii7 ( su*  
section4  #e4 ,report on ! ,dep>tm5t (  
,/ate's policy = promot+ religi\s fre$om
 9 ,turkey ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] !  
date ( ! enactm5t ( ! ,act1 ! ,secret>y 

( ,/ate1 foll[+ consultation ) !        
appropriate congressional committees1   
%all submit to ! appropriate            
congressional committees a report on !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's policy = promot+    
religi\s fre$om 9 ,turkey1 includ+ a    
description ( plann$ ef=ts to combat    
det]iorat+ conditions = religi\s fre$om 
9 ,turkey1 includ+ diplomacy1 =eign     
assi/ance1 & o!r relevant ef=ts4  #f4   
,appropriate congressional committees   
def9$ ,9 ?is ,act1 ! t]m appropriate    
congressional committees means-- 7#a7 ! 
,committee on ,=eign ,affairs & !       
,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives2 &  7#b7 ! ,committee 
on ,=eign ,relations & ! ,committee on  
,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate4