Freedom of religion

The Hellenic-American Leadership Council (HALC) has called for a review of Turkey's position in the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, published by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. HALC has proposed that Turkey be included in the "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPC) list.

American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis penned a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday concerning Turkey's renewed intentions to convert the historic Chora Church in Istanbul into a mosque later this month, according to press reports.

Tugba Tanyeri Erdemir, the coordinator of ADL's Task Force on Middle East Minorities and a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute, joins Thanos Davelis to look at religious freedom conditions in Turkey and highlight the key issues raised in USCIRF's 2023 Annual Report report, which recommended that Turkey be placed on the Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violat

Washington – The US Office of International Religious Freedom published its 2021 religious freedom report on Thursday, noting religious communities’ concerns in Slovenia about several loopholes and pending requests, including those related to halal meals, male circumcision and a lack of certain religious staff in the military.

Turkey still violates places of worship, religious liberty and history unapologetically after wiping out indigenous Christians from the region

They said Turkey was violating religious freedoms and human rights

Turkey on May 14 dismissed the U.S. State Department's latest report on religious freedom, saying it is not based on fact and ignored Ankara's efforts to promote religious freedom in the country.

The Turkey section of the International Religious Freedom Report 2020 is not based on facts, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said in a statement.

No virus can harm one's faith or customs. Nor is the exigency for health-protecting measures a blow to religious freedom.
We celebrated Easter with empty churches. Now, August 15 (one of Greece's biggest religious holidays) presents an even greater challenge: There is no blanket ban, meaning that adhering to the rules is up to the faithful. 

Turkey on April 29 slammed a report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom which recommended the U.S. government include Turkey on its "Special Watch List" (SWL) for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom.

State Secretary Maria Magdalena Grigore stressed on Thursday at the ministerial conference dedicated to the promotion of religious freedom organized by the US State Department, the fact that Romania will always be a supporter and promoter of religious freedom, as well as of the spirit of tolerance, the Foreign Ministry (MAE) informs.