Christians Were the Most Persecuted Minority in Turkey in 2023

Written by Kathrine Frich

Jul.22 - 2024 12:38 PM CET

World
Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock
A new report identifies Christians as the most persecuted religious group in Turkey for over three years.

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A recent report by the "Freedom of Belief" Initiative, cited by AsiaNews, reveals a troubling increase in the persecution of religious minorities in Turkey, with a significant rise in hate crimes since 2020.

Most Persecuted Religion

The comprehensive report details numerous incidents targeting various minority groups, highlighting a grim trend of intolerance and violence, according to Hotnews.

The report identifies Christians as the most persecuted religious group in Turkey for over three years. Following Christians, the report points to Jews, Alevis (a religious movement within Islam), Yazidis (a faith blending elements of Islam, Christianity, and ancient Persian religions), and atheists as other victims of discrimination and violence.

22 Attacks in 2023

In 2023 alone, Christians have been subjected to 22 attacks, with Jews facing 14, Alevis seven, Muslims four, Yazidis two, and atheists one. The rise in violence against Jews, in particular, is attributed to the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza. The report documents at least 47 incidents, including threats, violent assaults, attacks on places of worship or cemeteries, vandalism, verbal abuse, and sexual harassment.

Key locations of these attacks include cemeteries, places of worship, residential areas, and religious schools. The report underscores that hate crimes are often underreported and misrepresented, with official figures capturing only a fraction of the actual incidents.

Factors contributing to the underreporting of hate crimes include victims' normalization of such actions, fear of social exclusion, and doubts about the seriousness with which complaints will be addressed. The report also highlights troubling incidents in schools where Nazi symbols were used, stressing the urgent need for an inclusive and anti-discriminatory educational system to ensure a safe learning environment, as emphasized by report author Funda Tekin.