Faith
Turkey Faces Scrutiny Over Christian Expulsions
Faith Facts
- Over 200 foreign Christian workers have been expelled from Turkey since 2020, leaving Protestant congregations without spiritual leadership.
- The European Court of Human Rights is considering 20 cases where foreign Christians have been barred from Turkey, often without clear reasons or due process.
- Turkey has enacted policies preventing Christian associations from owning property, leading to the confiscation of over 1,000 church properties since 2002.
Foreign Christians in Turkey, many of whom are pastors and missionaries, have been labeled as security risks and expelled under undisclosed allegations, deeply affecting the faith community.
Without the ability to address accusations in court, these Christians have had no real chance to defend their right to worship and serve.
“Peaceful worship and participation in church life are not threats to national security. Yet foreign Christians in Turkey — pastors, teachers, ministry workers, and missionaries — have been labelled security risks and expelled based on undisclosed files.”
As a Muslim-majority country, Turkey has a complex record regarding its Christian minority, ranging from blocking planned attacks to imposing ongoing administrative and legal challenges.
There have been multiple attacks on churches, and negative portrayals of Christianity remain widespread in both educational material and public discourse.
“By examining these cases together, the Court is acknowledging that they may reveal a pattern of discrimination against Christians in Turkey. We look to the Court to uphold the fundamental principle that governments cannot strip people of their rights simply for living out their faith.”
Believers everywhere must pray for religious liberty and stand with those facing persecution, upholding the biblical call to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ.