Turkey’s Expulsion of Foreign Christians Sparks International Debate
In a significant international dispute, Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed a European Parliament resolution condemning the expulsion of foreign Christians from the nation. The controversy involves the deportation or denial of re-entry for at least 300 Christian pastors, missionaries, and their families over recent years.
This move has drawn the ire of European lawmakers, who have voiced their concerns about the treatment of Christians in Turkey, urging the country to uphold religious freedom. The European Parliament resolution highlighted the cases of these foreign Christian individuals, who were reportedly expelled under security measures identified as the N 82 and G 87 codes.
In response, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry vehemently rejected the claims, arguing that they misrepresent the situation and could potentially harm the diplomatic relations between Turkey and the European Union. The Turkish government emphasized that no external entity, including the European Parliament, has the jurisdiction to interfere in its judicial processes.
According to ADF International, the security measures labeled these individuals as national security threats without substantial evidence, trial, or an effective appeal process. This issue has gained further attention following the European Court of Human Rights’ decision to examine 20 cases of expelled or barred Christians.
ADF International, supporting most of the legal cases, asserted that the security codes, usually reserved for terrorism suspects, were unjustly applied to peaceful Christian residents with long-standing legal residence in Turkey.
European lawmakers have raised concerns about the limited judicial review, lack of transparency, and restricted access to evidence in these cases. During a parliamentary debate, Tomislav Sokol, a member of the European People’s Party, remarked, “These deportations of Christians in Turkey for reasons of national security are one more attack on Christians, the most persecuted religious minority around the world.”
The resolution also highlighted that many affected individuals had resided in Turkey for several years before facing deportation or re-entry bans. Christians from various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, Latin America, and other European regions, have been denied visas or deported, despite having no criminal records or outstanding legal cases.
The Association of Protestant Churches’ 2024 Human Rights Violation Report documented 132 people who were arbitrarily assigned entry ban codes due solely to their Christian faith, with the total number affected reaching 303. The report also cited numerous incidents of violence, intimidation, and discrimination against Christians in Turkey.
One prominent case involves Carlos Madrigal, a Spanish Protestant pastor who lived in Turkey for over 30 years and led churches for 21 years. His residence permit was revoked in 2022 after being labeled a national security threat. Madrigal, in an op-ed for Evangelical Focus, criticized Turkey’s approach, stating, “Turkey’s response is an exercise in semantics to conceal a systematic strategy: they do not officially ‘deport’ us, but they force us to leave by revoking residence permits without evidence.”
Dutch Member of the European Parliament Bert Jan Ruissen, who backed the resolution, called on Turkey to alter its course, stating, “The message of our resolution remains crystal clear: Turkish authorities must stop obstructing churches and missionaries,” according to Evangelical Focus.
The European Christian Political Party has also urged EU institutions, including foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, to address the issue consistently in political dialogues with Ankara. The party warned that failure to act might lead to further scrutiny of Turkey’s stalled EU accession process.
ADF International called on Turkish authorities to ensure that security measures comply with international human rights standards. The European court’s review of the pending cases will determine if the expulsions infringe on rights to religious freedom, family life, and due process as outlined in the European Convention on Human Rights.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
