BRUSSELS, Belgium — A report of the European Parliament reveals that discrimination by the Turkish government has resulted in a massive reduction in the number of Christians in Turkey.
According to the legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADF International), the population of Christians in Turkey stands at 0.2% as of Oct. 13, 2022, having dwindled from 20% of the population 100 years ago.
Quoting Open Doors, ADF International said reports also indicate that 60 or more foreign Christian missionaries and their families have been expelled from Turkey since 2020.
The atrocities and discrimination were brought to light in the European Parliament during an October event emphasizing freedom of religion in Turkey that was hosted in Brussels, Belgium.
“The situation of religious freedom in Turkey remains worrisome,” said Bert-Jan Ruissen, a European Parliament member. “We observe restrictive government policies on religious practice for all religious communities other than non-Sunni Muslims. We also see an increase in vandalism and violence against religious minorities and a government interfering in the internal affairs of religious communities. This contributes to a hostile environment.”
Turkey is No. 42 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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