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  • Press Release

AVISO: Freedom of Religion in Türkiye – A focus on Christian minorities

  • 60 Christian families expelled from Türkiye between 2020 and 2022 
  • Experts and witnesses highlight grave violations committed against Christian minorities at event hosted by MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen and ADF International 

BRUSSELS (11 October 2022) – Christianity in Türkiye has diminished from 20% to 0.2% of the population in the last 100 years. What faces those that remain? What could the EU do for religious freedom in the country?

Victims of faith-based discrimination join religious freedom experts for a panel discussion hosted by MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen of ECR, together with ADF International.

“The situation regarding freedom of religion in Türkiye remains alarming. Government propagation of violations to the right to freedom of religion, and its effects, remain rife. Christians and other faith minorities are unable to exercise various aspects of their right to freedom of religion. Protestant missionaries are unable to return to the country they call home, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church has not been able to train clergy for 50 years, and religious sites are being violated without action taken from the government. These direct and egregious violations clearly indicate the demise of democracy. Tomorrow’s event aims to bring these human rights violations to the attention of the world, express gratitude for actions already taken by EU institutions and call for further and ongoing action,” commented Panelist Dr. Georgia du Plessis, Legal Officer for ADF International in Brussels.

PANEL: Georgia du Plessis PhD (Belgium, legal officer ADF International), Rev Konstantinos Kenanidis PhD (Belgium, member of the College of Governance of EMUNA – an international interfaith educational formation program), Hayk Martirosyan PhD (Germany, researcher at the Lepsiushaus Potsdam) and Mark Smith (UK, expelled former resident of Turkiye, and leader of Turkish-speaking Evangelical church).

WHEN: Wednesday 12 October @ 14:00 – 15:30 CET

WHERE: ASP 1G2, European Parliament

Remote or physical participation is possible after registration by email: [email protected]

Interested in an interview with Georgia Du Plessis? Contact us at [email protected].

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Statement of Faith

Based on our adherence to the inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God in Scripture, we profess with the Christian Church throughout time and around the world the faith expressed in the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

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