Turkey put on 'worst' list for religious freedom

Turkey, a key U.S. and NATO ally, stands as a new and controversial
addition to an annual list of the worst offenders of religious freedom
by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Four of
nine commissioners objected to putting Turkey among "Countries of
Particular Concern"—a who's who of dictatorships and closed societies.

Some
Greek Orthodox Americans are pleased with the decision, citing longtime
abuses against Orthodox Christians in the historic heartland of Eastern
Orthodoxy. "Turkey hasn't been tolerant," said Alexander Karloutsos,
assistant to Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
America.