Religious freedom remains under threat in Turkey, as authorities continue to prosecute theological dissenters for perceived insults to Islam; exert undue administrative control over religious groups’ classification and registration; and impede some communities’ access to houses of worship and clergy—including expelling foreign Christian pastors under false pretenses of national security risks. Some refugees face unlawful deportation to countries where they face severe religious persecution. 

Religious freedom conditions in Bahrain are mostly stable, trending positive in some areas but remaining the same in others. The government generally allows freedom of worship for religious minorities, but continues its ongoing and systematic discrimination against some Shi’a Muslims. While they are generally free to worship, Shi’a Bahrainis have long faced difficulties in such areas as employment, political representation, freedom of expression, promotion within the military and mosque construction.

Religious freedom conditions in Russia are particularly severe as the government criminalizes the activities of multiple peaceful religious groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses,  often labeling such organizations as “terrorist,” “extremist,” or “undesirable.” Russia frequently persecutes religious leaders for expressing religiously-based opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and enforces its legal framework on the religious activity on the Ukrainian territory it illegally occupies.