Turkish Government Denies Targeted Deportation of Christian Missionaries; Accuses European Parliament of ‘Interference’  

  • Turkish Foreign Ministry dismisses overwhelming 502–2 vote as “baseless,” despite mounting scrutiny over expulsions of Christian missionaries from the country 
  • European Parliament voted to condemn use of Turkish security codes to expel Christians; this followed European Court of Human Rights recent decision to take 20 cases of missionaries expelled from Türkiye; the majority of which are legally supported by ADF International 

Strasbourg (17 February 2026) — The Turkish government has formally rejected the European Parliament’s recent resolution condemning targeted expulsions from the country “carried out under unsubstantiated national-security pretexts and without due process” for foreign Christians, in addition to journalists. 

In a statement issued on 13 February, a day after the vote, Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the resolution as containing “unfounded allegations” and characterized it as interference in the country’s internal affairs. 

The European Parliament adopted the resolution by an overwhelming margin (502 votes in favor and 2 against) signaling broad cross-party concern over what lawmakers described as the misuse of national security frameworks to restrict fundamental rights, including freedom of religion. The resolution followed the European Court of Human Rights’ decision at the beginning of February to take up 20 cases involving foreign Christians who were expelled or banned from re-entering Türkiye. 

These cases, the majority of which are supported by ADF International, stem from the Turkish government’s use of security codes, typically reserved for terrorist activity, to designate peaceful foreign Christian residents as threats to national security and block them from entering or remaining in the country despite longstanding lawful residence. The missionaries deported come from several countries across Europe, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Germany. More than a dozen are originally from the United States.  

“The Turkish government’s rejection of the European Parliament’s vote shows a clear lack of respect for its human rights obligations.When a government weaponizes national security mechanisms to target peaceful missionaries and faith communities, they must not be allowed to act with impunity.”

- Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Global Religious Freedom at ADF International

European Parliament addresses expulsion of missionaries

The European Parliament resolution specifically addresses the expulsion of foreign Christian missionaries, all legally residing in the Türkiye and many of whom were long-term residents of the country, through security codes that have resulted in deportations, re-entry bans, and loss of residency status. Lawmakers raised concerns about the lack of transparency, limited judicial review, and restricted access to evidence in these cases. 

During the debate on the resolution European Member of Parliament Sokol (EPP) stated:  

“These deportations of Christians in Türkiye for reasons of national security are one more attack on Christians, the most persecuted religious minority around the world. (…) The EU cannot talk of human rights and then remain silent when Christians are facing problems in Africa or persecution in a neighboring country. We must stand up for freedom of religion everywhere without any double standards. (…) Türkiye must put a stop to these deportations of Christians.”  

Cases of Expelled Christians Now Before the European Court of Human Rights 

The 20 pending cases before Europe’s top human rights court challenge the compatibility of the security-based expulsions with human rights protections for religious freedom, family life, and due process under the European Convention on Human Rights. 

The government’s use of these codes effectively labels individuals as a “threat to public order and security,” a classification normally reserved for terrorism suspects. However, those targeted have no criminal records and no evidence of unlawful conduct—the only thing that they have in common is openly practicing and sharing their Christian faith. 

The 2024 Human Rights Violation Report presented by the Protestant Church Association records 132 people who have been arbitrarily branded with an entry ban code, preventing them from entering Türkiye solely on the basis of their Christian faith. The total number of those affected is 303, according to the report. 

ADF International provides legal support to affected individuals seeking justice before the European Court of Human Rights and calls on Turkish authorities to ensure that security measures are applied consistently with international human rights obligations. 

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Finnish Parliamentarian on trial for Bible tweet testifies before U.S. Congress: “European censorship is a worldwide concern” 

Photo of Päivi Räsänen In the US House of Judiciary hearing

  • At House Judiciary Committee hearing, Parliamentarian Päivi Räsänen testifies about her six-year-long criminal prosecution for tweeting a Bible verse under Finnish “hate speech” law. 
  • An ADF International European legal expert further testified on the dangers of European online censorship, including through the EU Digital Services Act; in addition to Irish comedian Graham Linehan, who testified on his UK arrest for X posts. 
Photo of Päivi Räsänen In the US House of Judiciary hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 4) – Today, experts from Europe delivered a warning to the U.S. Congress about the growing threat of European censorship to American free speech.

Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen addressed lawmakers in a hearing titled “Europe’s Threat to Speech and Innovation: Part II,” hosted by the House Judiciary Committee. In her testimony, she detailed her ongoing criminal prosecution in Finland for expressing her Christian beliefs online, including in a 2019 Bible-verse tweet. Räsänen’s case has become one of the most prominent examples of the criminalization of peaceful speech in Europe.  

“Speech that is lawful today can become criminalized tomorrow. This should concern every person that values freedom,” Räsänen said. “My case shows where this path can lead. Recent developments from the European Union, like the Digital Services Act, make European censorship a worldwide concern.” 

Prosecuted for over six years under a “hate speech” provision in the section of Finland’s criminal code pertaining to war crimes and crimes against humanity, Räsänen is currently awaiting a verdict from the Supreme Court of Finland. Her legal defence has been coordinated by ADF International. 

“When the state controls which ideas and beliefs may be expressed, democracy becomes fragile,” Räsänen added. 

“Speech that is lawful today can become criminalized tomorrow. This should concern every person that values freedom. My case shows where this path can lead. Recent developments from the European Union, like the Digital Services Act, make European censorship a worldwide concern."

- Päivi Räsänen

Lorcán Price, Irish barrister and Legal Counsel with ADF International, also testified before the Committee, outlining how the European Union is using online speech regulations such as the Digital Service Act to create a dangerous worldwide censorship regime. 

“It is now undeniable that the reach of the DSA is not just a European problem,” Price said in his testimony. “The Commission has fired the first shots in a global struggle over whether people can speak the truth and whether American companies including Google, Bing, and Meta are free to continue to drive Internet innovation or instead be forced to help Europe silence speech worldwide.” 

Price warned that the EU’s speech restrictions risk being exported globally, particularly through large online platforms that operate across borders, raising concerns for Americans whose lawful speech could be restricted through foreign censorship. 

He cited the DSA’s first major fine of €120 million against X, which was issued in December for alleged violations of transparency and user-protection obligations. 

“The enormous fines levied on X by the EU commission proved beyond all doubt that the EU means to strangle free speech by a systematic assault on US companies,” Price said. In his written testimony, he added, “While these penalties are the first that the EU has imposed under the provisions of the DSA, be under no illusions, they will not be the last.”  

Graham Lineham, an Irish comedian and writer who was arrested for his X posts in September 2025 in London, also provided a witness testimony on the panel. 

Background

The hearing follows a recent report from the House Judiciary Committe previous House Judiciary Committee session on the threat of Europe’s growing censorship, during which Price also testified, warning lawmakers that European censorship laws threaten free expression far beyond the European Union. The initial hearing focused largely on the EU’s Digital Services Act and its implications for Americans’ online speech. Most recently, The House Judiciary Committee warned about the DSA’s risks to American free speech in a new report “The Foreign Censorship Threat, Part II: Europe’s Decade-Long Campaign to Censor the Global Internet and How it Harms American Speech in the United States.” 

The DSA grants the European Commission broad authority to regulate content on large online platforms. While framed as an online safety measure, the law creates strong incentives for platforms to remove lawful speech through heavy fines, government oversight, and reliance on “trusted flaggers” to identify allegedly problematic content. Because major platforms operate globally, the DSA risks establishing a de facto worldwide censorship regime that affects users far beyond Europe. 

ADF International has been at the forefront of raising concerns about the DSA and defending individuals targeted under Europe’s expanding speech laws, including providing legal support in Räsänen’s case, which has drawn international attention as a warning of the erosion of fundamental freedoms.

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Finnish Parliamentarian on Trial for Bible Tweet to Testify Before U.S. Congress on Europe’s Growing Censorship Regime 

  • Finnish Parliamentarian Päivi Räsänen to testify at House Judiciary Committee hearing on her criminal prosecution for “hate speech,” joined by ADF International European legal expert 
  • Räsänen, prosecuted for over six years, is currently awaiting a verdict from the Supreme Court of Finland on criminal charges for tweeting a Bible verse in 2019 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 30) – The U.S. House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing titled “Europe’s Threat to Speech and Innovation: Part II,” examining how European speech laws and censorship regimes are impacting free expression, innovation, and democratic debate. 

Witnesses, including Finnish Parliamentarian Päivi Räsänen and ADF International legal expert Lorcán Price, will warn lawmakers of Europe’s expanding speech restrictions, including criminal prosecutions for peaceful expression. These restrictions pose serious threats to fundamental freedoms and risk being exported beyond Europe to the United States. Graham Linehan, an Irish comedian who was arrested for his X posts in September 2025, will also serve as a witness on the panel.

Räsänen’s case has become one of Europe’s most prominent examples of the criminalization of speech, after she was criminally charged and put on trial for expressing her Christian beliefs online in a 2019 tweet. She is currently awaiting a verdict after facing criminal trial before the Supreme Court of Finland in October. 

Price will offer testimony regarding Europe’s censorship crisis and the European Union’s attack on free speech using the Digital Services Act (DSA), which is one of the most dangerous restrictions on free speech in the digital age. The House Judiciary Committee warned about the DSA’s risks to American free speech in its July report “The Foreign Censorship Threat: How the European Union’s Digital Services Act Compels Global Censorship and Infringes on American Free Speech”. 

When: 
Feb. 4, beginning at 10 a.m. EST 

Where: 
Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C., and via livestream 

Media Attendance: 
Members of the media are encouraged to attend the hearing in person or view the livestream. Interviews with speakers may be requested in advance. 

To schedule interviews or for additional information, contact ADF International Communications Officer, Anna Rose Myrick at [email protected] or (480)-371-7941.

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Brussels authorities face legal challenge after arresting individuals expressing concerns about puberty blockers 

  • Demand letter issued to Belgian Police following arrest of campaigner “Billboard Chris” (Canada) and Lois McLatchie Miller (UK)
  • Pair were arrested for holding conversations in public space about gender ideology: “children cannot consent to puberty blockers”

BRUSSELS (9 December 2025) – A UK citizen and Canadian campaigner are seeking compensation after they were arrested by Brussels authorities for peacefully expressing views about the harmful effects of puberty blockers on children. 

On 5 June 2025, Belgian police detained Chris Elston (known online as “Billboard Chris”) and ADF International’s Lois McLatchie Miller while they were conducting man-on-the-street interviews about gender ideology and the harmful effects of puberty blockers on children. To prompt conversation, they held signs reading: “Children are never born in the wrong body,” and “Children cannot consent to puberty blockers”.  

“It is scandalous to expose children to puberty blockers, and it is scandalous to silence and jail those who speak out about it. No one should fear arrest for defending children's safety.”

- Lois McLatchie Miller
McLatchie Miller had initially called the police for help after being harassed repeatedly by hostile men on the street while trying to conduct interviews. An aggressive crowd formed around the pair. Upon arrival, 14 police officers decided to arrest McLatchie Miller and Elston rather than the aggressors. The pair were taken into custody, held for several hours, and had their signs confiscated and destroyed. 

Right to Free Speech Violated

Responding to the incident at the time, the U.S. State Department said: “We are aware of these reports and are looking into the matter. The State Department strongly supports the peaceful freedom of expression for all”. 

With the support of ADF International and Belgian legal counsel, Elston and McLatchie Miller have issued a formal demand letter to the Brussels Chief of Police, as well as to the ombudsman, the city, the police inspectorate, and the state.

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The letter asserts that the authorities’ actions violated their freedom of expression and physical integrity under Belgian and international human rights law. It requests: a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident; official acknowledgment of rights violations; appropriate compensation and steps to ensure that such actions will not recur.  “Billboard Chris and Lois McLatchie Miller were arrested while holding consensual conversations on the street about the basic truth about the dangers of gender ideology. Any society that denies the basic right to express the truth is on a path to totalitarianism.  “Whether online or on the street, it is clear that free speech has reached a crisis point in Europe. EU governments cannot claim to uphold human rights while repeatedly violating the right to free expression.  “Belgian authorities not only failed to uphold the fundamental right to speak freely, they turned the power of the state against two individuals who were peacefully exercising their rights at the behest of increasingly aggressive bystanders, said Dr  Felix Böllmann, Director of European Advocacy for ADF International.  Elston, who regularly speaks about protecting children from harmful gender ideology in public squares across Europe and North America, including by sharing his conversations on social media, has publicly stated that he intends to return to Brussels and expects authorities to safeguard his right to speak freely.  “I’m speaking in the public square about one of the most significant medical human rights scandals of our day – the deliberate damaging of children’s bodies for an ideology which teaches they were born in the wrong body.  “Children don’t need drugs or scalpels – they are perfect just as they are, and need affirmation to love the skin they’re in. My engagement is based on mountains of medical evidence that has been established across the world. A society that punishes citizens for stating truth is on a dangerous path,” Elston said.   McLatchie Miller added: “Puberty blockers, and the cross-sex hormones that so often follow them, are highly dangerous drugs that can cause long-lasting damage to children – impacting their bodily development, bone density, mental health, lifelong fertility, and more. It is scandalous to expose children to these drugs, and it is scandalous to silence and jail those who speak out about it. No one should fear arrest for defending children’s safety.” 

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Pictured: Chris Elston, Lois McLatchie Miller

Türkiye Labels Christians as ‘National Security Threats’ to Justify Mass Expulsions

Speaking today at the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, Lidia Rieder, Legal Officer for ADF International warned that the government of Türkiye is systematically targeting Christians under the guise of “national security,” expelling hundreds of foreign believers and leaving local congregations without spiritual leadership.

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