This is according to a report by the Freedom of Belief Initiative. They are followed by Jews, Alevis, Yazidis and atheists. Attacks against cemeteries, places of worship, homes or schools linked to religious communities are among the most frequent incidents. Escalation of anti-Jewish violence since Israel’s war in Gaza.
Istanbul () – Christians are the minority group that has suffered the greatest number of religious attacks (documented) in Turkey last year. This is according to a report published in recent days by the Initiative for Freedom of Belief, which reports dozens of violent acts linked to “hate crimes” that targeted different religious groups, but with a greater incidence among Christians and Jews.
The study, which covers the year 2023 and is entitled “Hate Crimes in Turkey Based on Religion, Belief or Non-Belief”, reports at least 47 religiously motivated crimes or incidents, documented (also) with the aim of ensuring that crimes do not go unpunished. The most persecuted group is Christians, followed by Jews, Alevis, Yazidis and atheists. It is based on data from media monitoring and reports from religious communities.
The report also shows an “increase” in cases of violence last year compared to the previous year against Protestants and Jews. And, as in previous years, there is still a lack of an effective judicial process to address the extent of the crimes, resulting in frequent impunity.
Funda Tekin, which conducted the study, stresses that hate crimes and confessional crimes against individuals, communities or institutions based on beliefs or atheism remain a “major problem” for the protection and respect of human rights in Turkey. These criminal incidents send the message that victims and groups associated with them do not enjoy the same rights as the rest of the population, which is a major obstacle to social peace.
Looking across religious groups and affiliations, attacks in 2023 break down as follows: Christians 22 incidents; Jews 14 incidents; Alevis seven incidents; Muslims four incidents; Yazidis two incidents and atheists one. There were 26 incidents of threats or threatening behaviour, 11 violent attacks, nine documented incidents of attacks on places of worship or cemeteries, at least seven incidents of property damage, three verbal attacks and one incident of sexual harassment.
A review of data from previous years indicates that attacks on cemeteries, places of worship, homes or schools linked to religious or faith communities are among the most frequent incidents. Since 2020, the most targeted groups have been Christians (52 incidents), Alevis (42 incidents) and Jews (23 incidents), with persistent prejudice or hostile attitudes towards these minorities.
With dozens of cases, academics point out that the report’s data is generally under-reported and underreported, reflecting only a fraction of actual incidents. In this regard, the main obstacles to reporting hate crimes include: victims accustomed to actions motivated by prejudice or with a high tolerance threshold before resorting to reporting; fear of social exclusion leading people not to report; concern that reports are not taken seriously or may lead to further victimisation, including by law enforcement.
Some sites associated with religious or faith-based communities are repeatedly targeted, indicating systematic threats or pressure on specific individuals or groups. The report notes that hate crimes against Protestants, Assyrians and Yazidis have become “systematic” and harassment “recurrent”. In particular, the increase in attacks against Protestants may be partly due to media bias and “hate” rhetoric against them. In addition, since 2019, some 250 Protestants have been deported or had their visa applications rejected. for security reasons’.
This official stance is parallel to frequent depictions of Protestants as a “threat” to Turkish society due to “missionary activities.” Local newspapers sometimes provide church addresses, putting places of worship in the spotlight. Finally, there is the violence against Jews that has accelerated following the war launched by Israel against Hamas in Gaza in response to the terrorist attack on 7 October 2023. Incidents in schools where Nazi symbols were used underline the need for an inclusive, pluralistic and anti-discriminatory education system and curriculum to ensure a safe school environment.
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