TURKEY COUNTRY PROFILE
As part of his November 2025 trip, marking the 1,700 th anniversary of the first Council of Nicaea, Pope Leo XIV met local Christian leaders at St. Ephrem’s Syriac Orthodox Church, Istanbul 213 — the first new church built with government approval since modern Turkey was founded in 1923. Yet positive developments belie deeper problems, as Christians have suffered physical attacks, threats, vandalism and even attempted killings (See December 2024). These are frequently dismissed as isolated incidents and prosecutions are rare. 214 Current legal interpretations of the 1923 Lausanne Treaty grant minority status to Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Christians, Greek Orthodox Christians and Jews. Despite this, they have no legal identity and cannot corporately own properties or seek legal redress. The same applies to other Christian groups which can only own property through separate foundations. Speaking about the difficulties opening new places of worship during the UN’s Human Rights Council 58 th session, Ramazan Arkan of Antalya Evangelical Churches said: “Turkish churches face many difficulties and much discrimination." 215 Property ownership poses an ongoing problem for Churches and several cases were taken to the European Court of Human Rights. 216 Christian communities still face restrictions on the training of clergy. Protestant communities cannot train ministers in the country, largely relying on foreign-born staff 217 but since 2020, more than 200 have been expelled. 218 In early 2026, 20 cases were brought before the European Court of Human Rights. 219 On February 12, 2026, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the expulsions, which Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as “unfounded allegations." 220 The Greek Orthodox Church’s Halki Seminary has been shut for more than half a century 221 and so, like the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, sends candidates for the priesthood abroad for studies. During an April 2025 visit to Halki the Greek Foreign Minister called for its reopening, 222 and US President Trump raised the matter with President Erdogan during his September 2025 visit. 223 Media reports suggest Turkey’s Council of Higher Education is now in discussions with the Church about options for future ministerial training on the site — which following refurbishment should reopen in September 2026. 224
SELECTED INCIDENTS
SEPTEMBER 2025 A man desecrated the cross and other Christian symbols at the fifth-century St. Hirmiz’s Chaldean Church in Mardin and insulted worshippers. A video of the attack was put on X (Twitter). 226 JUNE 2026 Residents in the Chaldean Christian village of Aynwardo (Gülgöze), Midyat District complained their land was expropriated by government for renewable energy projects. Christian activists fear this growing trend will drive religious minorities from their historic villages, where populations are rapidly declining. 227
AUGUST 2024 Aya Lefter Greek Orthodox Cemetery in Kurtuluş, Istanbul, was attacked: several graves were damaged and across the site its grounds were dug up. DECEMBER 2024 On New Year’s Eve, a gunman opened fire on the premises of the Kurtuluş Church Association in Çekmeköy, Istanbul, shouting: “We will not allow you to brainwash our Muslim youth! You infidels will be defeated and driven into hell!” 225
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