Turkey Expels Foreign Journalists and Christian Missionaries

The European Parliament says that Turkey is unfairly sending foreign journalists and Christian missionaries home by claiming they threaten national security. The Commission’s 2025 report says the media environment in Turkey is getting worse, and at least 300 foreign Christian pastors, missionaries and their families have been deported under the “N‑82” and “G‑87” security codes without evidence, trial or a chance to appeal.

Recent examples include:

• Kaveh Taheri, an Iranian freelance journalist who is a UNHCR refugee, was detained on 26 January 2026 and faces deportation and possible persecution in Iran.
• Journalist Nujan Mala Hassan was shot by Turkish border guards on 20 January 2026 while covering protests.
• BBC correspondent Mark Lowen and French journalist Raphaël Boukandoura have been deported or threatened with deportation.
• Swedish journalist Joakim Medin has been convicted for doing his job.

Christians are the most persecuted religious group worldwide, and the Parliament says ignoring this undermines global efforts to protect religious freedom. Cases are pending before the European Court of Human Rights, including Wiest v Turkey. The Parliament also points to the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, the destruction of Christian churches, and ongoing pressure on Christian communities as part of a broader pattern of restricting freedom of expression and religion.

The resolution:

1. Strongly condemns the expulsions and the lack of evidence or judicial review.
2. Reaffirms that freedom of religion must be protected without discrimination.
3. Notes that these expulsions are part of a wider decline in democracy, judicial independence, and civil society.
4. Urges Turkey to stop all judicial and administrative harassment of foreign journalists, halt the deportation of Kaveh Taheri and others, and suspend legal actions against journalists like Joakim Medin.
5. Supports Turkish journalists who continue to report independently and calls for more support for independent media.
6. Demands that Turkey stop using the N‑82 and G‑87 codes, give clear reasons for decisions, allow independent court review, and let those expelled return.
7. Requests that EU bodies raise these concerns in talks with Turkey and consider targeted measures if abuses continue.
8. Instructs the Parliament’s President to send this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice‑President for Human Rights, member states, and the Turkish government and parliament.