Initiative group launches court case against new guidelines for elections of Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople
A public initiative court has launched a court case against the new regulations of elections of Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople presented by Turkey’s Ministry of Interior. Ermenihabe reported, the group issued a statement on Tuesday, saying their numerous calls on Bishop Sahak Mashalian, Locum Tenens of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Head of Religious Council Aram Ateshian and other members of the organizing committee to appeal the decision of the Turkish authorities remained unanswered.
To remind, Turkish authorities issued on September 24 guidelines for the election of a new patriarch for the Armenian Apostolic Church. The guidelines included a new condition that would preclude clerics serving outside of Turkey from participating in the election and severely restrict the number of individuals eligible to stand for election.
The election for Patriarch is scheduled to take place on December 11, 2019.