USCIRF 2025 Annual Report: Turkey

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Overview

Religious freedom conditions in Turkey remained highly restricted amid continued government pressure on minority communities, secularists, and dissidents. The Erdogan administration preserved policies and rhetoric emphasizing Sunni Islam’s dominance, marginalizing groups such as Alevis, Christians, Jews, and nonbelievers. Government authorities monitored, censored, and prosecuted perceived offenses against state-approved interpretations of Islam, often labeling dissent as blasphemy or terrorism.

Religious minorities faced institutional discrimination, denial of legal recognition, and limitations on worship, residency, and education. The closure of the Halki Theological School remained a symbol of the government’s enduring repression of religious autonomy. Nonstate actors and nationalist groups further intensified hate crimes and societal hostility, contributing to an increasingly dangerous environment for religious minorities.

This country update documents Turkey’s continued slide away from international religious freedom norms, outlining both state-led violations and the compounding role of nonstate actors.