Religious freedom conditions in Turkey continue to follow a disappointing, negative trajectory. The Hagia Sophia conversion, the continued closure of the Halki Seminary, government meddling in the internal affairs of religious minority communities, concerns about the education curriculum, hate speech, and Turkey’s intervention in northern Syria and Iraq are just some of the major threats to religious freedom that have occurred in the past year.

USCIRF Policy Analyst John Lechner joins us today to discuss recent developments for religious freedom in Turkey.

Read the 2021 Turkey Country Update

USCIRF Spotlight episode “Sivas Massacre and Turkey’s Persecution of the Alevi Community”

USCIRF Spotlight episode “50 Years and Counting: The Continued Closure of Halki Seminary in Turkey”