US Report Criticizes Turkey on Religious Rights

An annual U.S. government report is adding U.S. ally Turkey as well as Tajikistan to a list of the worst violators of religious rights.

The report to be released Tuesday by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom cites Turkey for "systematic and egregious limitations" on religious liberty. Turkey and Tajikistan are among a total of 16 nations listed by the commission as countries of particular concern.

The Turkish ambassador to Washington, Mamik Tan, dismissed the commission's action as unjustified.

"Any unbiased eye will immediately realize that that's not where Turkey belongs in the USCIRF annual report," Tan told The Associated Press.

He said the Turkish government began action last year to restore impounded goods to non-Muslim foundations. "The categorization of Turkey as a 'country of particular concern' is naturally unexpected as much as it is unfair," Tan said.

Among other problems, the report criticizes Turkey for regulating non-Muslim groups by restricting how they can train clergy, offer education and own their places of worship.
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