Jul 26, 2024

USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom in Turkey

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

Turkey Country Update – This report examines religious freedom developments in the first half of 2024, as well as ongoing factors affecting freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) within Turkey. It outlines how Turkish religious nationalism has contributed to these restrictions and explains the violations religious minority communities, dissenting Sunni Muslims, and secularists in Turkey continue to face. The report also notes attacks by nonstate actors on the basis of religion.

In its 2024 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State include Turkey on its Special Watch List (SWL) for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. In November 2023, USCIRF published a special report examining threats to religious sites in Turkey.

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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 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].