European Parliament
Correspondence with Citizens
GOL03A012 November 7, 2005
L-2929 LUXEMBOURG
Fax: (352) 43 00 27 072
Re: Esfigmenou Monastery – Atho, Greece
You must be aware of the tragic event of besiege and blockade taking place in within the European Union. We are talking about the Monastery of Esfigmenou that has had a long-standing dispute with the Patriarchate of Istanbul on dogma issues.
The Patriarchate, unwilling to talk out these dogmatic issues of faith, is reverting to roguish, unethical and in fact illegal means by which to punish the monks of Esfigmenou.
The Greek government, disregarding the principle of separation of Church and State, is using security forces, e.g., police, to blockade the Monastery, and starve the elderly monks of food, badly needed medications and heating fuel. In the interim, an impostor monastery – under the same name – has been set up to receive all external communication intended for the authentic monastery. How criminal!
The Patriarchate’s action is:
Roguish because of the use of government assets, e.g., police to impose its will upon its ranks.
Unethical because it has cut off the very basics for existence, e.g., food, medication, heating oil to monks of whom many are quite elderly.
Illegal because it has created an impostor monastery, bearing the name of Esfigmenou, to which mail, resources and other external inputs are diverted. Such an “infringement”, in a court of law, would be rendered “criminal trespassing”.
How can you, the heart of this new global entity, the European Union, remain idle and oblivious to this crime!?!
How can this European Union become a global player, an objective set forth by the Lisbon European Council (2000), when enforcement of human rights is not optimum?
On what moral principles can the European Union inquire about human rights in Turkey, when such rights are not observed in within the European Union?
How can you stand back and see your own Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union set forth by the Nice European Council (2000/C 364/01) be grossly violated?
Concretely, articles violated include the following:
Article 1
Human dignity (Human dignity is inviolable. It must be respected and protected)
Article 3
Right to the integrity of the person (Everyone has the right to respect for his or her physical and mental integrity)
Article 11
Freedom of expression and information
Article 22
Cultural, religious and linguistic diversity
Article 25
The rights of the elderly
Article 35
Health care (Everyone has the right of access to preventive health care and the right to benefit from medical
treatment under the conditions established by national laws and practices)
We are citizens of the European Union, and, we request that you take immediate and effective action!
We look forward to your reply.
Very sincerely,
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