The Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has inaugurated a mosque, a synagogue and a church in a bid to showcase a tolerant and positive image of Turkey days before the European Union is to decide on whether to start membership talks with the largely Muslim nation. The side-by-side houses of worship are situated in a park in the Mediterranean resort of Belek, near Antalya, and will mainly serve foreigners vacationing in the region. The church is partitioned into Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox sections. Dutch Minister for European Affairs Atzo Nicolai attended the ceremony and urged Turkey to decrease "state intervention in worship."
The inauguration of the mosque, church and synagogue was made possible after Turkey changed laws that restricted the opening of houses of worship other than mosques to boost its chances of EU membership. Erdogan, a devout Muslim, is keen to project a positive image of the country's treatment of minorities. He was the first premier to visit a chief rabbi shortly after suicide attacks on two synagogues last year, and earlier this week he sent a message to Jewish citizens for the holiday of Hanukkah.
