The government of Turkey has been accused of targeting Christians under the guise of “national security” by expelling hundreds of foreign believers and restricting church life across the country.

Speaking at the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference on October 13, 2025, Lidia Rieder, legal officer for ADF International, said the authorities were “misusing law” to silence religious minorities.

“Turkey’s labeling of peaceful Christian residents as ‘security threats’ is a clear misuse of law and an attack on freedom of religion or belief,” she said, referencing the ongoing Wiest v. Türkiye case before the European Court of Human Rights.

According to the Christian legal organization, since 2020, more than 200 foreign Christian workers and their families have been expelled from Turkey after being assigned “security codes” such as N-82 and G-87, effectively banning their re-entry.

Rieder warned that these expulsions have left many Protestant congregations without pastors or leaders.

ADF International said it is supporting more than 30 legal cases on behalf of Christians affected by the bans.

The organization argues that these measures breach Articles 9 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantee freedom of religion and non-discrimination.

The forthcoming Wiest v. Türkiye ruling is expected to set a key precedent for religious freedom in Europe and beyond.