A new global assessment of religious freedom highlights a worsening landscape for Christians, Jews and Alevis in Turkey, while also documenting targeted hostility against Ezidis whose presence in the region long predates the modern Turkish state.
The Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025, published by Aid to the Church in Need, places Turkey among the countries where discrimination against non-Sunni groups has become systemic. Covering developments between 2023 and 2024, the report describes a deepening alignment of state institutions and public life with Sunni Islam under the long rule of the AKP government.
Historic sacred sites reveal growing hostility. In 2024, the 4th-century Chora Church was reconverted into a mosque, and the Dormition of Mary liturgy at Sumela Monastery was postponed—skipped by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the first time since 2010. Christian sites face mounting pressure, including cemetery desecration in Istanbul and the abrupt closure of Bursa’s only functioning church.
Jewish citizens have also seen rising antisemitism after the 2023 Israel–Hamas conflict, with public Nazi salutes, political praise of Hitler, hospital protests, and media calls to revoke citizenship for Jews serving in the Israeli military.
For the Ezidis—an ethnic people indigenous to the broader region and adherents of Sharfadin—the report documents a pattern of targeted harassment in southeastern Turkey, especially toward families attempting to reclaim ancestral land. Acts of intimidation included vandalized graves, destroyed irrigation lines and damage to vehicles. These incidents reflect broader structural problems and long-standing discriminatory practices that Ezidis continue to face, despite their deep historical roots and distinct cultural identity.
Alevis also remain vulnerable to hate crimes. The report records several incidents in 2023 alone, ranging from shrine desecration to physical attacks, underscoring a persistent environment of hostility.
Education has become a sensitive battleground. Government-backed programs introduced imams as “spiritual counselors” in public schools and expanded compulsory Sunni instruction, leaving Alevi and other non-Sunni students without meaningful exemptions. Private schools banned Christmas and Easter celebrations, further limiting cultural diversity.
Structural restrictions persist: only Armenians, Greeks, and Jews are officially recognized under the Treaty of Lausanne, while Syriacs, Protestants, and others lack legal status. Protestant pastors have been expelled or denied entry, and the Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) continues to expand, with a 2025 budget exceeding several major ministries.
Despite constitutional guarantees of secularism, intolerance and administrative discrimination are rising.
Ezidis have a long history of marginalisation in Turkey. Their situation reminds us that the protection of diverse peoples requires more than legal promises. It demands consistent political will, accountability and genuine respect for the region’s ancient cultures.
