Turkish Armenians ask for equal citizenship in new charter

Acting Patriarch Aram Ateşyan, the religious leader of Turkish Armenians, asked for equal citizenship for all the Turkish Republic’s citizens, as well as an “embracing” charter, during an appearance in front of Parliament’s Constitution Conciliation Commission yesterday, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Ateşyan issued a call for a definition of “constitutional citizenship” during his presentation. His definition was reportedly different from the Greek Patriarchate, which had asked for citizenship under the definition of Turkishness. 

“There may not be any definition of citizenship in the Constitution. But if there is to be a definition, then anybody born on the soil of the Republic of Turkey, or one who has acquired Turkish citizenship, or one whose parents or father are citizens of the Republic of Turkey, is a citizen of the Republic of Turkey,” Ateşyan said.