Turkey expels a foreign Christian because of his faith

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Under Erdogan's regime, Turkey continues to flout the rights of Christians, whether of Turkish or foreign nationality. Kenneth Wiest, an American Protestant who has lived in Turkey for 34 years, has become a target of this latent repression. Expelled without tangible justification in 2019, he is now fighting before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to regain his life and defend a fundamental principle: religious freedom. The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) intervened as a third party on 8 November 2024.

Kenneth Wiest, an American Protestant, had lived in Turkey since 1985 with his wife and their three children, born and raised on Turkish soil. However, after a trip abroad in June 2019, he was banned from returning home. The Turkish authorities invoked Article 9 of the Aliens Act, which allows anyone considered a threat to national security to be refused access to Turkish territory. But no evidence was presented to support these accusations. Worse still, Wiest was never given access to the evidence against him, or a fair trial to defend himself.

Opaque, arbitrary and systemic expulsions of Christians

This ban has turned the life of this Christian, who for more than three decades had actively contributed to Turkish society and built a family on its soil, upside down. Sadly, the Wiest case is not an isolated one. Between 2019 and 2023, at least 115 foreign Christians were expelled from Turkey on similar pretexts, which also affected 46 spouses and 66 minor children. These expulsions systematically target Christians, perceived as ‘threats’ because of their faith and missionary activities. However, no equivalent measures have been taken against foreign Muslim missionaries.

This differential treatment reveals structural discrimination, supported by a nationalist and religious ideology that seeks to homogenise Turkey under a Turkish-Islamic identity. Erdogan's policy is part of a wider context of persecution of Christian minorities. Although Christians have been present in Anatolia for thousands of years and are supposed to be protected by the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923, they now represent only 0.2% of the population in Turkey. The expulsions, expropriations and constant surveillance of their institutions bear witness to a clear desire to stifle all Christian expression in the country.

The expulsion of a foreign Christian goes against his freedom of religion

In its written observations, the European Centre for Law and Justice calls on the European Court of Human Rights not to examine this expulsion solely from the angle of the right to respect for private and family life (Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights). Indeed, the defence of Kenneth Wiest's rights concerns not only him and his family life, but all expelled foreign Christians, as well as all Turkish Christians who find themselves deprived of training and support. The ECLJ therefore notes the importance of examining the case from the perspective of freedom of religion (Article 9) and the prohibition of discrimination based on religion (Article 14).

Case law precedents, such as Nolan and K. v. Russia (no. 2512/04) or Corley and Others v. Russia (^nos.292/06 and 43490/06), show that similar expulsion measures taken by other States have already been condemned by the Court on the basis of freedom of religion. The ECLJ insists on the unjustified nature of the ban. Not only has no evidence of a real threat been provided, but the Turkish authorities are systematically using ‘national security’ arguments to conceal a blatant anti-Christian policy. Kenneth Wiest's reinstatement in Turkey would represent a victory not only for him, but also for all persecuted Christians in the country.

The Wiest affair illustrates the Turkish authorities' desire to weaken Christian minorities in Turkey, and in particular the Protestant community. The ECLJ denounced this persecution in its contribution to the October 2024 Universal Periodic Review of Turkey at the United Nations Human Rights Council. The ECLJ has also submitted observations in several cases concerning violations of the rights of Christians by Turkey, such as Fener Rum Patrikliği v. Turkey (no. 14340/05), Arnavutköy Rum Ortodoks Taksiarhi Kilisesi Vakfi v. Turkey (no. 27269/09), Arhondoni v. Turkey (no. 15399/21) and Mavrakis v. Turkey (no. 12549/23).