Aug 14

WHEN:

Aug 14th 10:30am

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing

 

Freedom of Religion or Belief in Turkey


Thursday, August 14, 2025
10:30 AM-12:00 PM ET
 

Hearing Transcript
Hearing Summary

 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in Turkey.

USCIRF’s visit to Turkey in September 2024 and subsequent reporting have confirmed that the Turkish government continues to restrict religious freedom through a variety of means, including administrative, educational, and judicial. This hearing assessed these areas of FoRB restrictions and how they impact Turkey’s many religious communities: Alevis, Protestant Christians, Orthodox and Apostolic Christians, Jews, Sunni Muslims, secularists, and others. It also considered how the United States can leverage bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to support FoRB for all who call Turkey home. 

In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Turkey for its Special Watch List (SWL) due to its systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).

 

Witnesses discussed potential next steps to advance freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in Turkey and improve conditions for members of the country’s religious minority and majority communities alike.
 

Opening Remarks

Panel

  • Ramazan Arkan, Chair of the Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey (Protestan Kiliseler Derneği) and Senior Pastor of the Antalya Evangelical Churches
    Written Testimony

  • Haydar Baki Dogan, President, Alevi Foundations Federation
    Written Testimony

  • Soner Cagaptay, Beyer Family Senior Fellow and Director of the Turkish Research Program, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
    Written Testimony

  • Thomas Paul Schirrmacher, President, International Institute for Religious Freedom and the International Council of the International Society for Human Rights
    Written Testimony



This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions or to schedule an interview, please email [email protected].

Jul 21, 2025

USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom in Nigeria 

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report:  

Nigeria Country Update - This report provides an update on freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria. Twelve state governments and the federal government enforce blasphemy laws, prosecuting and imprisoning individuals perceived to have insulted religion. There are currently four Muslims incarcerated under blasphemy laws including two religious leaders. Despite efforts to reduce violence by nonstate actors, the government is often unable to prevent or slow to react to violent attacks by Fulani herders, bandit gangs, and insurgent entities such as JAS/Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). 

In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” or CPC, for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. In May 2025, USCIRF held a hearing on religious freedom conditions in Nigeria.  

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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].

Jul 21, 2025

USCIRF Releases Report on Bangladesh 

 

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on Bangladesh:

 

Bangladesh Factsheet – In July 2024, student-led protests ushered in a new political movement and the installation of a new caretaker government in Bangladesh. Since then, the caretaker government has proposed a wide range of amendments, reforms, and constitutional changes, but underlying tensions between religious communities remain.  In light of these developments, USCIRF conducted a delegation to Dhaka, Bangladesh in May 2025 and met with civil society and government officials to discuss religious freedom. This factsheet provides a summary of religious freedom conditions in Bangladesh, including key observations from USCIRF’s delegation. 

In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF highlighted religious freedom conditions in Bangladesh. In 2022, USCIRF conducted a delegation to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh to assess conditions for Rohingya refugees.

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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].

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