Greek Orthodox Patriarch has been imprisoned for three years for selling land to Jews
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irineos I (seen here pulling a bag of groceries into his apartment) has been imprisoned in his Jerusalem apartment for the last three years by his successor, Theofilos III, for selling land to Jews. Irineos spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday through a wireless microphone hoisted at the end of a rope to his roof — in the same black shopping bag supporters use nightly to deliver him groceries.Read the whole thing. I'm actually surprised they haven't murdered him yet.
"They allow nobody out and nobody in to visit me," said Irineos. "They are afraid of the people because I'm loved by the people, and I love the people," he said into the microphone, peering over the edge of his roof.
It is a harsh comedown for a man who ruled his flock for four years as a revered spiritual figure.
Irineos said his successor, Theofilos III, will not allow attorneys, doctors or visitors to enter the home he has lived in for almost 40 years. He said he's been trapped there for three years for refusing to concede the patriarchate.
Senior church officials denied he was under house arrest, but others say he is indeed being held against his will.
The church deposed Irineos in 2005 over allegations he signed a land deal handing over prime church properties to Jews who seek to increase their presence in predominantly Arab east Jerusalem, which Palestinians want for capital of a future state. Irineos refused to recognize his ouster.
Palestinians consider sale of land to Jews a serious crime, and most Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem are Palestinians.
Irineos maintains he was unaware of the transactions and did nothing wrong. A report commissioned by the Palestinian Authority in 2005 concluded he didn't participate in any of the sales. When he was deposed, his defenders said the land sale charges were trumped up by his political opponents.
"I ask God every day to reveal the truth," he said. "There is no patriarch. I'm the patriarch."
Labels: Arab land sales to Jews, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:50 AM
2 Comments:
I suspect it has to do with anti-Semitism in the Greek Orthodox Church as well as its need to be on good terms with the Arabs.
I don't quite understand: Isn't this location under Israeli control? How can a man be privately imprisoned for three years without being rescued by the legitimate authorities?
Post a Comment
<< Home