ECHR begins consideration of cases of mass expulsion and ban on entry of Christians to Turkey

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has initiated a number of complaints concerning the expulsion and ban on foreign Christians entering Turkey. Ankara has been notified to provide official explanations in these cases, in which restrictions were imposed under the pretext of «national security».

According to Christian Today, the ECHR has requested explanations from the Turkish authorities for at least 20 cases in which the Strasbourg court has begun review proceedings. More than 200 foreign Christian ministers have been expelled from Turkey since 2020, affecting about 350 people in total. Many of them were subsequently banned from re-entering the country, also on «national security» grounds.

Pastors, teachers, missionaries and other members of Protestant congregations, some of whom had lived in Turkey for decades, fell under the restrictions. As a result, a number of parishes have been left without spiritual care. Lawyer Lydia Ryder, representing the applicants, emphasized that peaceful participation in church life cannot be considered a security threat, and the expelled persons did not have access to the materials of the charges and the opportunity to fully defend their rights.

Human rights defenders express serious concerns that the cases under consideration may be indicative of a systemic practice of discrimination against Christians in the country. Previously published reports have already noted cases of administrative restrictions, attacks on churches, difficulties with registration of religious associations, as well as confiscation of church property.

Recall, earlier we reported that the head of the Church of Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew called for friendship between Greece and Turkey for the sake of peace in the Mediterranean region. Bartholomew called Greeks and Turks «friendly nations,» noting the efforts of the Turkish and Greek governments in this direction. The head of the Phanar believes that both sides will benefit from such friendship.