By The Blogging Hounds
Turkey is intensifying its crackdown on foreign Christians, labeling them as national security threats and systematically deporting or barring their return, according to reports from ADF International, an international legal advocacy group. The moves have left local Protestant communities without leadership and disrupted religious life across the country.
Administrative Codes Used to Deport Christians
ADF International Legal Officer Lidia Rieder revealed at the OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw that Turkey’s Ministry of Interior has relied on internal security codes — notably N-82 and G-87 — to deny residence or re-entry to foreign Christians without charges or criminal evidence.
Since 2020, at least 200 foreign Christian workers and their families, totaling around 350 people, have been affected. Those targeted come from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, and Latin America, many of whom had lived in Turkey for decades without legal issues.
A June 2024 ruling from Turkey’s Constitutional Court upheld the use of the N-82 code against nine foreign Christians. The court published their names, prompting media coverage labeling them as missionaries and “enemies of the state,” with some online commenters calling for the death penalty against them.
Between December 2024 and January 2025, at least 35 new internal security codes were issued, including against long-term residents, according to ADF International.
Impact on Local Christian Communities
The administrative bans have left Protestant communities severely weakened, as congregations rely heavily on foreign pastors. Churches have faced vandalism, threats, and physical attacks, including:
- Gunfire at the Eskişehir Salvation Church in January 2024, hitting a dentist’s office below; no police report was filed.
- Armed attacks on the Salvation Church association in Çekmeköy last December.
- Vandalism and threats in Kayseri, Bahçelievler, and İzmir.
- Denied permits for distributing religious brochures and canceled Easter and Christmas events.
Other disruptions include job terminations tied to religious associations, such as a Christian English teacher in Malatya who was dismissed without explanation.
Legal Battles Underway
ADF International reports supporting over 30 legal challenges in Turkish and European courts, including Wiest v. Türkiye, where a U.S. citizen with 30+ years of residence in Turkey was blocked from returning. These cases seek to challenge Turkey’s increasingly restrictive and arbitrary measures against religious minorities.
Broader Religious Freedom Concerns
Despite constitutional protections, foreign Christians and local churches face systemic obstacles:
- The historic Halki Seminary remains closed.
- Protestant seminaries lack legal recognition.
- Bible education is prohibited, while Islamic theological training continues under state oversight.
- Churches like Bursa Protestant community have lost access to their worship facilities.
ADF International emphasizes that these developments represent growing discrimination, harassment, and state-sanctioned pressure against Christian minorities.
Conclusion — Faith Under Siege
Turkey’s deportations and labeling of Christians as “national security threats” signal a disturbing trend of religious persecution. Foreign workers, church leaders, and congregations now face fear, instability, and legal uncertainty, highlighting the urgent need for international oversight and advocacy to protect the rights and safety of Christians in Turkey.
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