Turkish Constitution does not entitle them to pray namaz in Cathedral of Ani

The initiative by the head of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Devlet Bahceli to hold a massive namaz in the ruins of medieval Armenian town of Ani may run counter to Turkey’s Constitution, Turkish Minister of Tourism Ertugrul Gunay said talking to Beyazgazete website.

“If that refers only to a private namaz, then a clean place could be found [instead] to pray. But should such an event involve masses of people, I think it may contradict Turkey’s Constitution and the “Law about Political Parties,’” said he.

Earlier Devlet Bahceli said he was going to pray namaz in Cathedral of Ani built in 1064.

Devlet, who was an opponent of the historic one-off mass in Sourb Khach Church (Saint Cross) in Van served on September 19, said the move aimed to counter that mass.

Oktay Aktash, another member of the Nationalist Movement, in turn said that 40 members of the party are planning to pray the namaz in Ani.

He also said that they will serve pilaf to the participants and will distribute Turkish national flags to them.