Turkey is facing serious allegations of deporting hundreds of peaceful Christians under the pretext of “national security.” This includes the expulsion of dozens last year alone, a move that legal advocates assert is a direct “attack” on religious freedom.
On Monday, during an address to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Lidia Rieder, a legal expert with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, voiced concerns over Turkey’s systematic targeting of Christians merely “for practicing their faith.”
“Turkey’s categorization of peaceful Christian residents as ‘security threats’ represents a blatant misuse of legal frameworks and an assault on religious freedom,” Rieder stated during the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference. “When governments exploit administrative or immigration systems to exclude individuals solely based on their faith, it not only erodes the rule of law but also the core principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence that the OSCE was established to uphold.”
Visitors gather outside the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island in Lake Van, Turkey, on Sept. 7, 2025. (Bilal Seckin/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Since 2020, over 350 foreign Christian workers and their families have been expelled from Turkey, according to ADF reports, with at least 35 cases occurring from December 2024 to January 2025.
The international watchdog highlights that Turkey’s Ministry of Interior has assigned “security codes,” such as N-82 and G-87, to these individuals. This classification effectively bans them from re-entering Turkey, branding them as national security threats.
Rieder also reminded the OSCE conference of the “landmark case” Wiest v. Turkey, which is currently before the European Court of Human Rights, and is “expected to set a crucial precedent for the protection of religious freedom in Europe and beyond.”
Kenneth Wiest, a U.S. citizen and a Protestant, was born, raised and then resided legally in Turkey with his wife and three children for over 30 years before he was banned from the country in 2019 upon returning from a trip “without evidence of wrongdoing.”
His case is just the latest in what is increasingly viewed as discriminatory policies that persecute religious minorities since President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took office more than a decade ago.
Women pray during the annual service at the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island in Lake Van, Turkey, on Sept. 7, 2025. (Bilal Seckin/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Rieder said that the Turkish delegation present at the OSCE conference “itself acknowledged that discrimination against Christians is on the rise across the OSCE region and beyond,” which she said was “notable.”
“While Turkey emphasized its commitment to promoting tolerance through international cooperation, the same principles must be upheld within its own borders,” she said. “The reality on the ground remains deeply concerning for many individuals, families, and communities who continue to face restrictions on worship, deportations, and barriers to religious education.
“Turkey’s call to hear the voices of victims and to respect fundamental freedoms for all must now be translated into concrete action,” Rieder added.
The Turkish embassy in D.C. did not directly respond to Fox News Digital’s questions but pointed to a statement released on Wednesday by Ankara’s office of Communications Center for Countering Disinformation, which denied the claims levied by ADF International and called them “completely unfounded and part of a deliberate disinformation campaign.”
The office pointed to the history of Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities that have co-existed together and said Turkey is working to “protect” and “restore” places of worship.
“Respect for faiths and pluralism are indispensable elements of our country’s democratic order,” the statement read. “Turkey, like any other sovereign state, may make administrative decisions on foreign nationals for a variety of reasons, including visa violations, disturbance of public order, or a lack of legal permits.”
The communications department said no visa-based decisions have been made based on “identity or affiliation.”
A priest (R) is seen kissing a holy symbol held by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I celebrated the Easter’s Vigil ceremony at St. George Cathedral, in Fener, Turkey on April 20, 2025. (Valeria Ferraro/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images))
The statement did not directly address the case involving Wiest.
“Freedom of religion cannot exist if believers live under threat of expulsion for practicing their faith,” Rieder said. “The OSCE and its participating States have pledged to promote tolerance and non-discrimination. These commitments must be upheld not only in word, but in action.”
OSCE did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions about what steps it will take to address the growing concerns of religious persecution in Turkey.
