# Understanding the Turkey and Ecumenical Patriarchate Religious Freedom Act

This bill is about pressuring Turkey to improve its treatment of religious minorities, particularly the Greek Orthodox Church and its leader, the Ecumenical Patriarch. The bill doesn't directly change any laws or impose immediate penalties, but rather expresses Congress's concern about religious freedom violations in Turkey and calls for the U.S. government to take specific actions in response.

The core issue is that Turkey has significantly restricted the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is the spiritual center of Orthodox Christianity and is based in Istanbul. According to the bill, Turkey has confiscated about 75 percent of the church's properties, placed heavy taxes on its hospital, limited who can become church leaders to only Turkish citizens, and closed a theological school that trained Orthodox priests. The bill also mentions that Turkey converted famous historical churches—including the Hagia Sophia—from museums back into mosques, which many see as hostile to religious minorities. These actions allegedly violate international agreements Turkey signed, including treaties from 1923 and international human rights covenants.

The bill's main request is that the President place Turkey on the U.S. State Department's "Special Watch List" for severe religious freedom violations. This is a formal designation that signals international concern and can encourage a country to improve its practices. If the President doesn't do this within 90 days of receiving a recommendation from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the bill requires the President to explain why in writing to Congress. Additionally, the State Department must submit a report within 90 days describing its strategy for promoting religious freedom in Turkey through diplomacy and other means.

For most Americans, this bill has little direct impact on daily life. However, it matters for U.S. foreign policy and could affect U.S.-Turkey relations. It also matters to the approximately 1.5 million Greek Orthodox Christians in America who look to the Ecumenical Patriarch as their spiritual leader, and to anyone concerned about protecting religious minorities worldwide.

Turkey and Ecumenical Patriarchate Religious Freedom Act of 2021

Maloney, Carolyn B.

Turkey and Ecumenical Patriarchate Religious Freedom Act of 2021 This bill requires reports on religious freedom in Turkey. The Department of State must report to Congress on the State Department's policy for promoting religious freedom in Turkey. If the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommends putting Turkey on the State Department's special watch list of countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom but the State Department does not do so, the President must report to Congress a justification for the decision. The President shall not have to make this report if Turkey is added to the special watch list or designated a country of particular concern for religious freedom.