The sharp decline of religious freedom in Turkey

Thank you, Madame Moderator.

My name is Thibault van den Bossche, and I represent the European Centre for Law and Justice.

Ladies and gentlemen, the ECLJ wishes to raise the alarm regarding the sharp decline of religious freedom in Turkey.

International reports rightly point to Turkey’s failure to comply with European Court  of Human Rights judgments, and note the rise in anti-minority hate speech.

But they frequently overlook the systemic, daily discrimination that Christians concretely face on the ground.

On the judicial front, the ECLJ is fighting to break this silence on three major points.

First: the systematic expulsion of foreign Christians engaged in peaceful, perfectly legal activities. Under the guise of opaque security codes, nearly 200 foreign Protestants have been already  targeted, tearing apart 400 individuals and their families. Having exhausted all domestic remedies, dozens of victims have now taken their cases to the European Court. This silent purge was explicitly condemned by the European Parliament in a resolution passed just last February.

Second: the direct interference in church leadership. In May 2026, in the Mavrakis case, the European Court condemned Turkey for preventing Greek Orthodox priests from serving on the board of their own foundations—solely because they were priests. Instead of complying, Turkey has requested a referral to the Grand Chamber, deliberately prolonging the legal insecurity of these communities.

Finally: property expropriation. The latest case involves an Armenian Hospital Foundation, which is now all too familiar with endless legal battles. This foundation was wrongfully—and without a shred of evidence—classified as "defunct" for the sole purpose of placing its assets under public trusteeship. This is yet another tactical seizure of property.

Ladies and gentlemen,

These cases point to one undeniable reality: freedom of religion cannot exist without freedom of association and the right to property. Depriving churches of legal personality, expelling their leaders, and seizing their property has nothing to do with national security. It is systematic religious harassment.

We firmly remind Turkey that protecting the religious freedom of Christians is a strict legal imperative. It remains a fundamental pillar for comprehensive security and lasting peace across the entire OSCE region.

I thank you.

Watch the oral intervention at 1h20m: