The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCRIF) is condemning the expulsion of Christians in Türkiye. In a recent statement, the organisation cited several laws and policies restricting religious freedom for religious minorities.
Additionally, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has taken up the cases of twenty foreign-born Christians who have been deemed as national security threats and expelled from the country by the Turkish government. These cases are fueled from the Turkish government’s use of internal security codes to label foreign Christian missionaries as threats to national security. The labels effectively bar these Christians from staying or entering Türkiye despite long-standing lawful residence.
In response to these cases, the USCIRF has recommended that Türkiye be placed on the U.S. Department of State Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom.
USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler has commented on the ongoing situation in Türkiye , saying that the persecution of these Christians is intended to intimidate and prevent the Christian community from gathering to worship.
“Everyone, regardless of residency status, has the right to freedom of religion or belief under international law,” she added, “The U.S. administration should maintain the momentum President Trump made in his September meeting with President Erdoğan and push for tangible improvements to Türkiye’s religious freedom record, including an end to its repressive tactics against Christians.”
Christian advocacy group, Alliance Defending Freedom, has expressed its support for this recommendation from the USCIRF. The organisation, which offers legal support for almost all of these cases, says that it applauds USCIRF’s decision to express its opposition against the actions taking place in the country.
“We hope that the U.S. government and the international community will continue to stand up for this fundamental right and call on Türkiye to put an end to the targeted expulsions of Christian missionaries.” Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International, Kelsey Zorzi, stated, “Peacefully practising the Christian faith is no reason to be labeled as a security threat and expelled from the country where these individuals lawfully built their lives in.”
The statement reiterates the sentiment behind a recent resolution from the European Parliament. The Parliament stated that it “condemns the targeted expulsions of foreign journalists and foreign Christians carried out under unsubstantiated national-security pretexts and without due process.”
The Parliament also urged Türkiye to “immediately cease the use of administrative security codes N-82 and G-87, to provide individualised and reasoned decisions subject to independent judicial review, and to allow those expelled arbitrarily to return”
A statement by the European Parliament detailed that Türkiye has developed a pattern of expulsions of foreign Christians, pastors, missionaries and family members, under administrative “security codes” N-82 and G-87 that deem individuals as threats without evidence, trial or effective appeal. In addition, between 2019 and 2024, over 130 foreign Christians were banned or expelled. These actions impacted some 300 people, including spouses and children.