EP condemns Turkey for deportations of Christians from country

A flag of Turkey in Ankara. Photo: Depositphotos

On February 12, 2026, at a plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the deportations of foreign Christians and journalists from Turkey under the pretext of national security. This is stated in the parliament's official press release.

The document was adopted with 502 votes "in favor," 2 "against," and 59 abstentions. The text indicates that Turkish authorities use unfounded national security grounds and do not provide persons subject to expulsion with proper procedural guarantees. Deputies emphasized the lack of access to evidence and effective judicial review in deportation cases.

The European Parliament called on Ankara to immediately cease judicial and administrative persecution of foreign journalists, as well as suspend expulsion procedures. Regarding Christians, the parliament demanded abandoning the use of administrative codes N-82 and G-87, under which at least 300 foreign believers were deemed a "threat to national security," and ensure the possibility of independent review of decisions.

The resolution also contains a call to allow the return of persons who were arbitrarily deported. The document was adopted in the broader context of discussing the human rights situation, freedom of religion, and press freedom in Turkey, as well as within the framework of a package of resolutions concerning human rights violations in several countries.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that leaders of Turkey and Greece will discuss the religious agenda with Patriarch Bartholomew.

Read also

More than 40% of Ukraine’s reserved clergy are Protestants

DESS reported that among nearly six thousand clergy who have received reservation status, the majority come from Protestant communities.

RCC bishop: Why this war if there are no people in Ukraine in 15 years?

Vitaliy Kryvytsky stated that Ukraine is experiencing "not a crisis, but a catastrophe" with demographics and called for not surrendering conservative values to Russia.

Court hearing in Upper Lavra case to take place on February 18

UOC lawyer reported on a new court hearing regarding the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Shevchuk in Brazil: Those who don't believe in Ukraine's victory should repent

The head of the UGCC during his visit to Curitiba called on the Ukrainian diaspora to convince Brazilians of the inevitability of victory and stated that those who doubt should "convert".

EP condemns Turkey for deportations of Christians from country

The European Parliament adopted a document criticizing the deportations of foreign Christians and journalists from Turkey, carried out under the cover of national security considerations.

Persecuted UOC community in Cherkasy celebrates patronal feast in basement

Metropolitan Theodosiy celebrated the Liturgy in the basement of a residential building in Cherkasy, where the UOC community is temporarily praying after being expelled from their church.