New Report Cites Ongoing Religious Freedom Violations in Turkey
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom on Friday released an updated country report on Turkey, citing ongoing violations of religious freedom by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government,
The newly-released report examines religious freedom developments in the first half of 2024, as well as ongoing factors affecting freedom of religion or belief within Turkey. It outlines how Turkish religious nationalism has contributed to these restrictions and explains the violations religious minority communities, dissenting Sunni Muslims, and secularists in Turkey continue to face,” the commission explained.
In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State include Turkey on its Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. In November 2023, USCIRF published a special report examining threats to religious sites in Turkey.
That report also called on Congress to “incorporate consideration of Turkey’s treatment of religious minorities and broader human rights issues into its continued evaluation of the U.S.-Turkey bilateral relationship, including in the context of proposed legislation.”
“Recent political and social conditions in Turkey continue to present challenges to religious freedom in the country. Amid Turkey’s other significant human rights abuses, including increasing levels of transnational repression, the government has also maintained or advanced policies that disenfranchise or threaten religious minorities in both Turkey and neighboring countries,” the report said.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the president, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief.
