On targeted expulsions of foreign journalists and Christians in Türkiye under national security pretexts

B100134/2026

European Parliament resolution on targeted expulsions of foreign journalists and Christians in Türkiye under national security pretexts

(2029/2613(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on Türkiye,

having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Iranian journalist and human rights advocate Kaveh Taheri, living in exile in Türkiye and recognised as a refugee by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, was detained on 26 January 2026 in Sakarya while travelling to Istanbul for a visa appointment; whereas his detention is linked to deportation proceedings, raising concerns about his potential return to Iran and risk of political persecution; whereas a deportation order was issued on 28 January 2026 on “national security” grounds, a rationale repeatedly used without meaningful disclosure of evidence;

B. whereas, since 2019, more than 300 foreign Christian workers and their family members, including long-term residents, have been expelled from Türkiye following the assignment of “security codes” such as N-82 and G-87 by the Ministry of Interior, resulting in re-entry bans and designation as national security threats without individualized public reasoning; whereas between 2024 and 2025 at least 35 additional such codes were reportedly issued, leading to loss of pastoral leadership in numerous congregations and serious disruption to religious life across the country;

C. whereas the detention and deportation proceedings initiated against Kaveh Taheri and expulsions imposed on Christian workers in Türkiye point to a practice of using immigration and national security to breach human rights protected under international human rights law and the European Convention on Human Rights to which Türkiye is a party;

D. whereas the case of Kenneth Arthur Wiest v. Türkiye, currently pending before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) could in 2026 become a landmark judgment; whereas on 2 February 2026 the ECtHR communicated a joint application comprising twenty cases, David Kim Wilson and Pamela Lynn Wilson v. Türkiye;

E. whereas Christians are the most persecuted religious group globally, whereas tackling this issue must be central to EU foreign policy;

1. Calls on the Government of Türkiye to immediately halt deportation proceedings against Kaveh Taheri and ensure his release in full respect with international human rights standards;

2. Calls on the Turkish authorities to cease the use of security-based restriction codes to target foreign journalists, Christian religious workers and other foreign nationals without transparent, individualized and judicially reviewable justification;

3. Call on the Commission to raise the expulsion of foreign Christians and journalists in their dialogue with Turkish government officials, demanding full compliance with European Court of Human Rights rulings on freedom of religion and belief;

4. Manifests its unwavering support for Christians everywhere and affirms that freedom of religion or belief, including the right to practice, change or manifest one’s religion individually or in community with others, must be fully protected in accordance with international human rights law and upheld without discrimination or interference by state authorities;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the Government and Parliament of Türkiye;