US commission to hold hearing on religious freedoms in Turkey

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) will host a virtual hearing on August 14 to examine the state of freedom of religion or belief in Turkey, amid growing concern over systematic restrictions on religious minorities and dissenting faith groups.

The hearing follows USCIRF’s fact-finding visit to Turkey in 2024 and its 2025 Annual Report, which urges the US State Department to designate Turkey for its Special Watch List due to its ongoing violations of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).

The commission found that the Turkish government continues to interfere in religious life through legal, administrative and educational mechanisms, affecting a wide range of communities, including Alevis, Protestant and Orthodox Christians, Jews, Sunni Muslims and secular citizens.

Opening remarks at the hearing will be delivered by USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler and Vice Chair Asif Mahmood. The panel comprises Ramazan Arkan, chair of the Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey; Haydar Baki Doğan, president of the Alevi Foundations Federation; Soner Çağaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute; and Thomas Schirrmacher, president of the International Institute for Religious Freedom. The hearing will be open to members of Congress, congressional staff, the public and the media.

Witnesses will discuss potential next steps to advance freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in Turkey and to improve conditions for members of the country’s religious minority and majority communities alike.

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the US Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the president, secretary of state and congress to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief.