A lawsuit has been filed by a Turkish citizen against Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos, alleging that he has violated Turkish law by wearing his cassock in public spaces. The complaint states that the Orthodox hierarch is often seen in religious attire while going about his daily activities and attending public events such as shop openings and bakery inaugurations. The lawsuit includes footage showing the Metropolitan dressed in a cassock and a kalimavkion, the traditional headdress of Orthodox Christian clergy.
According to ethnos.gr, a notable aspect of the lawsuit is the plaintiff’s argument of “reciprocity” in relation to the Muslim minority in Thrace, Greece. The plaintiff argues that if Muslim clerics are not allowed to wear traditional turbans in “Western Thrace,” then Orthodox bishops in Turkey should also be prohibited from wearing religious attire in public.
Turkish law, which upholds strict secularism, only permits the Ecumenical Patriarch and the heads of all religious communities, including the top Muslim leader, to wear religious garments in public. Lower-ranking priests and religious figures are legally restricted from doing so. The lawsuit is based on this legal framework, although enforcement has been inconsistent, especially concerning Muslim clerics.
The timing and motives behind the lawsuit have raised concerns, as legal actions of this nature are rarely pursued or successful in court. Some believe it may be a targeted form of harassment against Metropolitan Kyrillos rather than a genuine effort to uphold the law.
Additionally, the argument of reciprocity in relation to Thrace lacks legal basis, as the restrictions on Christian clergy in Turkey are solely based on Turkish law, while Greece does not impose any legal restrictions on the attire of Muslim religious figures.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas