Christian missionaries are reporting being inexplicably banned from entering Türkiye – despite many having lived in the country for decades.
Christian legal charity Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has brought 20 cases to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), arguing that the Turkish government’s actions amount to intimidation and discrimination against peaceful Christians.
Since 2019, Turkish authorities have marked Christian’s passports with internal security codes such as “N-82” and “G-87” – a memo typically reserved for terrorists.
The codes have been applied to at least 160 foreign Christian workers and their families, with ADF estimating suggesting the true number could be over 300. Affected individuals have found themselves denied re-entry to Türkiye after travelling abroad or refused residence permits, despite years of lawful residence and service in the country.
The ECtHR has communicated these cases jointly to the Turkish government, inviting an official response and signalling that the court sees the applications as sufficiently related to be considered together.
Among those impacted are Pam and Dave Wilson, who served in Türkiye for almost 40 years before being barred from returning. Another married couple received an N-82 designation after attending a church conference, and minister David Byle found himself effectively exiled after 19 years of mission work.
“These are individuals who have built their lives in the country,” Kelsey Zorzi, ADF's Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom, told Premier Christian News. “They’ve married Turkish citizens, and had children who are Turkish. They’re been uprooted from their entire families.”
“It has also very negatively impacted Christian communities, as many local leaders rely on these missionaries to shepherd their churches,” she added.
The ECtHR has submitted the cases to the Turkish Government – suggesting there is strong evidence for examination – and is awaiting a response as proceedings move forward.