Mar 28, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2019
 

USCIRF Condemns Erdogan’s Threats to Change Status of Hagia Sophia
 

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned recent comments made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan threatening to convert the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul from a museum into a mosque. The site, a Greek Orthodox cathedral for nearly 1,000 years, was forcibly converted by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II into a mosque in 1453, became a museum under the Atatürk government in 1935, and was designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Site in 1985. 

“Hagia Sophia bears profound historical and spiritual significance to Muslims and Christians alike, and its status as a museum must be maintained,” said USCIRF Chair Tenzin Dorjee. “President Erdoğan’s comments are needlessly provocative and hurtful to Turkey’s minority religious communities. Additionally, the implications of such an action are compounded by the deteriorating landscape for religious freedom, democracy, and human rights in Turkey.”

In response to Erdoğan’s most recent comments, UNESCO officials reportedly have stated that changing Hagia Sophia’s status requires the approval of UNESCO.

In its 2018 Annual Report, USCIRF placed Turkey on Tier 2 for engaging in or tolerating religious freedom violations that meet at least one of the elements of the “systematic, ongoing, egregious” standard used to designate a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.
 

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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 threats to 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. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Kellie Boyle at [email protected] or +1-703-898-6554.

 

Additional Name(s): Artem Stanislavovich Kim, Ким Артём Станиславович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: February/15/2019

Date of Release: February/15/2019

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Artem Kim

Extra Bio Info:

Artem Kim was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On February 15, 2019, authorities briefly detained Kim after raiding the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses in Surgut, Lyantor. Authorities accused him and his colleagues of "delivering speeches, engaging in the Witnesses' public preaching activity with local members, meeting with Bible education volunteers and appointed congregation assistants, and having as one objective the organizing of appointed men in the Vzlyotnove Congregation."  Authorities were investigating Kim for allegedly “organizing the activities of a public or religious association or other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-1 RCC) and “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC).

It is reported that while in custody, Kim and his colleagues were electrocuted, strangled, and beaten. Kim was released on recognizance afterwards.

On October 11, 2021, Kim's trial began.

Kim is married.

Related Cases: Vyacheslav Boronos, Yevgeniy Fedin, Saveliy Gargalyk, Yevgeniy Kayryak

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Maksim Valeryevich Khalturin, Халтурин Максим Валерьевич

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: October/9/2018

Date of Release: September/30/2019

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: House Arrest

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Maksim Khalturin

Extra Bio Info:

Maksim Khalturin was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On October 9, 2018, authorities arrested Khalturin after raising his home in Kirov.  Authorities were investigating Khalturin for allegedly “organizing the activities of a public or religious association or other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-1 RCC), “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC), and “collecting funds…intended to finance the organization, preparation and commission of at least one of the crimes of an extremist orientation, or to ensure the activities of an extremist community or an extremist organization” (Art. 282.3-1 RCC).

On October 11, 2018, Khalturin was ordered to stay in a pre-trial detention center.

On January 31, 2019, Khalturin was released from pre-trial detention and placed under house arrest.

On September 30, 2019, Khalturin's house arrest order was lifted.

Publicly Available Information:
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