The State Department Should Place Turkey on the Special Watch List

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reiterates its recommendation for the U.S. Department of State to place Turkey on its Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom. This recommendation echoes actions taken by the European Court of Human Rights and European Parliament this month in response to Turkey targeting foreign Christians.

“Turkey’s arbitrary labeling of foreign-born Protestant Christians as national security threats is meant to intimidate the Christian community and prevent them from gathering for worship. Everyone, regardless of residency status, has the right to freedom of religion or belief under international law,” said Chair Vicky Hartzler. “The U.S. administration should maintain the momentum President Trump made in his September meeting with President Erdoğan and push for tangible improvements to Turkey’s religious freedom record, including an end to its repressive tactics against Christians.”

Turkey maintains several laws and policies restricting religious freedom for religious minorities, including both religious minority groups and secularists. For example, authorities prevent Christian communities from training their clergy domestically, obstruct the registration of Alevi, Protestant, and Jehovah’s Witness houses of worship, and refuse to grant legal personality and full autonomy to religious communities. The government also imposes its preferred interpretation of Islam on the population, regardless of religion or belief, prosecuting those it deems to have expressed offensive religious views. Additionally, authorities hinder the exemption of students, including dissenting Muslims, from state-mandated courses on Sunni Islam.

“We welcome steps European bodies have taken to hold Turkey accountable for its systematic violations of religious freedom,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood. “We urge the U.S. government to prioritize freedom of religion or belief as part of its bilateral relations with Turkey and raise with Turkish government officials the obstacles to religious minorities’ access to houses of worship and clergy, such as barriers to continued legal residency and restrictions on clerical institutions including the Theological School of Halki.” 

In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department place Turkey on the Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom. In August 2025, USCIRF held a hearing on freedom of religion or belief in Turkey.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency 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. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].