USCIRF: 2026 Annual Report – Türkiye
- NCCA
- Mar 4
- 2 min read
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), March 2026
Overview
In its 2026 Annual Report, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommends that Türkiye be placed on the Special Watch List (SWL) due to ongoing and systematic violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).
The report documents how the Turkish government continues to impose legal, administrative, and societal restrictions on religious communities while expanding the use of criminal prosecutions and national security laws to target individuals.
Cases linked to the Hizmet (Gülen) Movement remain a central part of this pattern, with authorities frequently prosecuting individuals based on perceived religious affiliation.
Key Findings
Systematic FoRB violations: USCIRF finds that Türkiye continues to engage in ongoing and serious violations of religious freedom through legal restrictions and prosecutions.
Special Watch List recommendation: The report urges the U.S. government to designate Türkiye on the SWL under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Criminalization of belief: Authorities prosecute individuals for religious expression or affiliation under charges such as “terrorism” and “incitement.”
Case of Aysu Öztaş Bayram (“Girls’ Trial”): The report highlights the prosecution of Aysu Öztaş Bayram, part of a broader case where women and even high school students faced terrorism charges over alleged Hizmet Movement links. The case exemplifies how freedom of religion and belief is undermined through collective prosecutions.
Restrictions in detention: Authorities reportedly restricted detainees’ access to religious materials, including Qur’ans and other texts, and limited their ability to practice daily religious observances.
Use of blasphemy-like laws: Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code is applied as a de facto blasphemy law to suppress religious expression.
Pressure on religious minorities: Non-Sunni communities face legal and administrative barriers to recognition, education, and operation of places of worship.
Targeting of clergy and foreign religious workers: The government has used immigration and security laws to restrict or expel religious leaders.
Why It Matters
USCIRF’s findings demonstrate that violations of religious freedom in Türkiye are systemic and state-driven, affecting both minority communities and individuals accused of affiliation with the Hizmet Movement.
The prosecution of cases such as the “Girls’ Trial” illustrates how counterterrorism laws are used to criminalize belief and association, extending repression to women, students, and families.
These practices reflect a broader erosion of rule of law and highlight the urgent need for accountability, international monitoring, and protection of fundamental freedoms.
Tags
Hizmet Movement · Turkey · Human Rights · Religious Freedom · Freedom of Belief · Post-Coup Purge · Fethullah Gülen · Repression
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