The Turkish government has formally rejected the European Parliament’s recent resolution condemning targeted expulsions from the country “carried out under unsubstantiated national-security pretexts and without due process” for foreign Christians, in addition to journalists.
In a statement issued on 13 February, a day after the vote, Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the resolution as containing “unfounded allegations” and characterized it as interference in the country’s internal affairs.
The European Parliament adopted the resolution by an overwhelming margin (502 votes in favor and 2 against) signaling broad cross-party concern over what lawmakers described as the misuse of national security frameworks to restrict fundamental rights, including freedom of religion. The resolution followed the European Court of Human Rights’ decision at the beginning of February to take up 20 cases involving foreign Christians who were expelled or banned from re-entering Türkiye.
These cases, the majority of which are supported by ADF International, stem from the Turkish government’s use of security codes, typically reserved for terrorist activity, to designate peaceful foreign Christian residents as threats to national security and block them from entering or remaining in the country despite longstanding lawful residence. The missionaries deported come from several countries across Europe, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Germany. More than a dozen are originally from the United States.
The European Parliament resolution specifically addresses the expulsion of foreign Christian missionaries, all legally residing in the Türkiye and many of whom were long-term residents of the country, through security codes that have resulted in deportations, re-entry bans, and loss of residency status. Lawmakers raised concerns about the lack of transparency, limited judicial review, and restricted access to evidence in these cases.
During the debate on the resolution European Member of Parliament Sokol (EPP) stated:
“These deportations of Christians in Türkiye for reasons of national security are one more attack on Christians, the most persecuted religious minority around the world. (…) The EU cannot talk of human rights and then remain silent when Christians are facing problems in Africa or persecution in a neighboring country. We must stand up for freedom of religion everywhere without any double standards. (…) Türkiye must put a stop to these deportations of Christians.”
The 20 pending cases before Europe’s top human rights court challenge the compatibility of the security-based expulsions with human rights protections for religious freedom, family life, and due process under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The government’s use of these codes effectively labels individuals as a “threat to public order and security,” a classification normally reserved for terrorism suspects. However, those targeted have no criminal records and no evidence of unlawful conduct—the only thing that they have in common is openly practicing and sharing their Christian faith.
The 2024 Human Rights Violation Report presented by the Protestant Church Association records 132 people who have been arbitrarily branded with an entry ban code, preventing them from entering Türkiye solely on the basis of their Christian faith. The total number of those affected is 303, according to the report.
ADF International provides legal support to affected individuals seeking justice before the European Court of Human Rights and calls on Turkish authorities to ensure that security measures are applied consistently with international human rights obligations.
