Christians most persecuted religious group in Turkey

Posted on: September 4, 2024

Country: Turkey

Christians in Turkey are the most persecuted religious group in Turkey, with a total of 22 attacks in 2023, according to the Freedom of Belief Initiative.

In its report entitled "Hate Crimes in Turkey Based on Religion, Belief, or Non-Belief" the Freedom of Belief Initiative highlights that attacks on cemeteries, places of worship, homes and schools associated with religious or faith communities are among the most common incidents, according to a review of historical data.

According to the findings based on information from media and religious communities, Christians are the most persecuted group in Turkey in 2023 with a total of 22 attacks, followed by Jews (14), Alevis (7), Yazidis (2), and atheists (1). 

According to Asia News, this figure does not reflect the true scale of the problem, as it is only a fraction of the actual incidents. This shows that under-reporting is still a problem.

An example of the persecution of Christians in Turkey is the denial of land applications in Diyarbakir. The Protestant Christians (more than 100 people) applied to build a new church. The land in question is specifically designated for religious purposes. They encountered a bureaucratic labyrinth in which state institutions sent their applications back and forth, claiming that they were not authorised to grant the land use application.

According to ADF: "the denial of land is part of a pattern of increasing government hostility against Christians in Turkey." 

Sources: DECISION; CatholicVote

Media: ADF International