Heybeliada Theological School to reopen: ‘In line with the imperialist agenda’

On June 19, 2024, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli had stated regarding the status of the Patriarchate: "The Patriarchate, which exists under the protection of the Turkish constitution and laws, does not possess any more authority or rights than any church or synagogue belonging to non-Muslim minorities. Patriarchs are administratively subordinate to the Fatih District Governorship and the Istanbul Governorship."

On the other hand, in August 2025, the US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, explicitly used the term "ecumenical" during his visit to Patriarch Bartholomew. However, there was no reaction from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to this statement.

‘IT WEAKENS PUBLIC OVERSIGHT’

Speaking to 12punto on the subject, Fırat said, "This is a complex issue that concerns multiple political and legal planes. It has not been announced to the public under what status the school will open or according to which legislation it will operate. Furthermore, we feel the need to draw attention to the Treaty of Lausanne, sovereignty, and the unification of education.

These three headings should be taken into account in the regulations regarding minority rights, which were also confirmed in Lausanne. The Heybeliada Theological School is a higher education institution established in 1844 to train Orthodox clergy and is open to Orthodox Christians worldwide within the framework of the Patriarchate's Ecumenical status.

The Treaty of Lausanne allows non-Muslim minority communities in Turkey to open their own primary and secondary education institutions. Today, minority schools continue their activities within this framework and under the supervision of the Ministry of National Education. However, the Heybeliada Theological School was a higher education institution, and its openness to Orthodox Christians worldwide weakens public oversight and challenged the framework defined in Lausanne.

This situation created a vacuum that imperialists could exploit for their ambitions in the Black Sea and Eastern Europe. The school was closed under a 1971 Constitutional Court ruling that mandated the closure of private higher education institutions. This decision was important for the public nature of higher education and also concerned foreign schools. Indeed, the higher education section of Robert College was also closed in 1971 in accordance with the same ruling. The 'nationalize private schools' protests by the revolutionary youth movement of the period were influential in bringing this issue to the agenda," he stated.

‘WE ARE AWARE THAT THEY ARE EAGER TO TAKE STEPS THAT WILL ERODE LAUSANNE’

On the other hand, touching specifically on the Treaty of Lausanne regarding the issue, Fırat said, "The Treaty of Lausanne both registered Turkey's sovereign rights and formed the basis for the transition from empire to Republic. Lausanne secured minority rights by defining them within the context of national borders. This approach, which eliminated the imperial order in favor of the Republic, also consolidated Turkey's sovereignty over its own lands.

The Republic's independent, secular, and public-oriented achievements form a whole that complements each other, and there are examples of this in many fields. The abolition of the Patriarchate's 'Ecumenical' title is also important in the context of the liquidation of the imperial order. For the reasons I have listed, the Heybeliada Theological School was challenging the framework of Lausanne.

Likewise, the fact that US and EU imperialism is so interested in this issue is not independent of these powers' calculations regarding Eastern Europe and their imperialist ambitions against Russia. A regulation that will challenge the Treaty of Lausanne and the principle of unification of education, and open the door to the imperial order, will result in nothing but the expansion of the imperialists' sphere of influence.

This ground must be taken into account in the regulations to be made regarding the rights of minorities arising from Lausanne. Although we do not yet know the details specific to this issue, we are aware that the government is eager to take steps that will erode Lausanne with Neo-Ottomanist fantasies," he said.

‘WE CAN INTERPRET THIS AS CREATING A SHARE’

Regarding the intersection points between the opening of the Heybeliada Theological School and the 'Turkey Without Terror' process, Fırat said, "We can interpret all of these moves by the government as increasing the US's influence in the region and creating a share for itself from this picture. The US is intervening in the region and then wants to outsource this. The government, on the other hand, is taking steps to implement all moves compatible with the US in the war for a share among these subcontractors.

On the other hand, we believe that the naivety of thinking that these processes and 'democratization' moves are being made because the US and EU want a democratic country no longer exists. Especially when it has been said by the ambassador himself that our country should be governed by a monarchy.

It is clear that the Epstein coalition has no concern for the reconciliation of peoples or minorities receiving their rights. In that case, we can say that every move they make is in line with weakening sovereignty and leaving no nation-state in the region, and that those who are in cooperation are also serving this plan," he stated.

‘WE EVALUATE IT WITHIN THE AXIS OF IMPERIALIST INTERVENTIONS’

Regarding the duties and responsibilities of socialists in the face of this step by the government, Fırat said, "This is also one of the critical topics. As can be understood from our previous answers, we evaluate all issues, including this one, within the axis of imperialist interventions.

Therefore, we place the US and its collaborators as the target. This is the litmus test in such matters. Elements with nationalist roots who openly engage in NATO-ism and Israel-ism, let alone opposing the US on issues related to our country's sovereignty, are targeting either minorities or the peoples of other countries and different ethnic-national communities. This is actually an approach that is exactly in line with the imperialist agenda and remains loyal to the plan that will accelerate our fragmentation. The duty of socialists is to unite those who want to protect Turkey's sovereignty, those who defend independence, and patriots in a struggle against the US, NATO, and Israel.

To achieve this, we need to clarify the essence of the subject and the main target in such agendas. This is the only way we can neutralize the collaborative structures that exploit the people's desire for independence and patriotic feelings through such agendas."

News: Cenk Başboğaoğlu