Turkey's Justice Minister on Friday underlined the freedom of religion in the country, saying that everyone lives as they wish, regardless of their beliefs.
During his visit to the Deyrulzafaran (Mor Hananyo) Monastery in Turkey's southeastern province of Mardin, Abdulhamit Gul said: "Our aim in politics is that everyone believes, lives, and worships as they wish in Turkey, regardless of their religion, thoughts or beliefs."
Gul went on to say: "This is tradition, this is culture. Maintaining this atmosphere is our basic approach."
The minister also expressed his happiness to visit an Assyrian monastery built in the fifth century and to see its historical atmosphere.
Saliba Ozmen, the metropolitan bishop of Mardin and the neighboring Diyarbakir province, accompanied Gul during this visit.
Pointing out that different languages, religions, beliefs, and civilizations existed in Mardin, Ozmen stressed that they were very happy to be in Turkey and thanked Gul for his visit.
