US report on religious freedom says Turkey has 'serious violations'

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its annual report for 2016, where it once again categorized Turkey as a Tier 2 country, defined as a place where rights violations are "serious." The report noted some improvements in the country's record in terms of minority religious celebrations and compensation for minorities' expropriated properties, while also calling for further improvements such as recognizing Alevi houses of worship (cemevis), abolishing mandatory religious classes and opening the GreekOrthodox Halki Seminary.

An independent advisory body to the U.S. government, the USCIRF releases annual reports on the state of religious freedoms across the world and makes policy recommendations.

As part of its 2016 report, Turkey was once again categorized as a Tier 2 country where "the violations engaged in or tolerated by the government are serious and are characterized by at least one of the elements of the 'systematic, ongoing and egregious.'"

In its findings, the commission said some improvement over the past few years was noted, as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government moved to return or pay compensation for the expropriated properties of religious minorities. The loosening restrictions of headscarves were also noted as a positive development, in addition to improvements on marking religious minorities' celebrations.

"[The] Turkish government has shown that improvements for freedom of religion or belief are possible without a new constitution when sufficient political will is present," the report said, while adding that their resolve "remains lacking on other issues, such as the long-promised reopening of the GreekOrthodox Halki Seminary." While praising...