English: Treaty of Berlin Article 62 Status Quo The Sublime Porte having expressed its willingness to maintain the principle of religious liberty and to give it the widest sphere, the contracting parties take cognizance of this spontaneous declaration. In every part of the Ottoman Empire difference of wall. gion shall not be held as a reason of exclusion or unfitness in anything that relates to the use of civil or political rights, admission to public employment, offices, and honours, and the exercise of all professions and industries, whatever the locality may be. All shall be admitted, without distinction of creed, to give evidence before the tribunals. The exercise and open profession of all religions shall be entirely free, and no impediment shall be offered either to the hierarchical organisation of the various religious bodies or to their relations with their spiritual chiefs ; ecclesiastics, pilgrims, and monks of all nationalities travelling in Europeaa and Asiatic Turkey shall enjoy the same rights, advantages, and privileges. The right of official protection is accorded to the diplomatic and consular agents of the Powers in Turkey, both with regard to the persons above-mentioned, with their religious and charitable establishments, and to others in the Holy Places and elsewhere. The rights conceded to France are expressly reserved,. it being well understood that the status quo with respect to the Holy Places -shall not be seriously affected in any way. The monks of Mount Athos, whatever their nationality, shall be maintained, in possession of their possessions and previous advantages, and shall enjoy without exception full equality of rights and perogatives.