Congressional Hearing Highlights Accelerating Democratic Erosion in Turkey and Threats to Religious Freedom
No. 40
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) highlighted key takeaways from a June 3 hearing convened by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission examining growing concerns about democratic backsliding, religious freedom, and minority rights in Turkey. During the commission's third consecutive annual hearing on the state of democracy in Turkey, members of Congress and expert witnesses examined the continued consolidation of power under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and its implications for religious minorities, political opposition, and freedom of the press. The hearing was attended by Commission Co-Chairs U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and U.S. Rep. James McGovern (D-MA). Commission Member U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) also joined the proceedings.
Four expert witnesses testified: Professor Henri Barkey of Lehigh University; Serkan Golge, NASA scientist and former Turkish political prisoner; Michael Rubin of the Middle East Forum; and Andrew O'Donohue of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Witnesses testified that Turkey has crossed a critical threshold, moving beyond competitive authoritarianism into full authoritarian governance. They argued that President Erdoğan has weakened institutions capable of challenging his rule, suppressed independent journalism through legislation that threatens journalists with up to three years of imprisonment, and imprisoned political opponents. Witnesses cited the March 2026 arrest of former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on terrorism and corruption charges - just days before his announced presidential candidacy - and the May 2026 nullification of the leadership of Republican People's Party Chairman Özgür Özel as emblematic of this alarming trend.
U.S. Rep. Bilirakis directed pointed questions to the witnesses regarding the prospect of restoring the Hagia Sophia to museum status, reopening the Halki Seminary, and officially recognizing the Ecumenical status of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Professor Barkey testified that progress on these fronts remains blocked by the Turkish government's unfounded fear of Greek territorial ambitions. He also noted the troubling emergence of official rhetoric asserting that Greek Muslims are ethnically Turkish and should relocate to Turkey. The remaining witnesses agreed that meaningful advancement on these issues is unattainable under the current government. Congressman Bilirakis affirmed that he would not abandon the effort.
Witness Andrew O'Donohue delivered a stark warning that conditions for Jewish citizens have deteriorated so severely - driven in part by Erdoğan's exploitation of antisemitic rhetoric - that he judged the time had come for Jews to consider leaving Turkey. His testimony, together with concerns raised throughout the hearing regarding the suppression of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the continued closure of Halki Seminary, the conversion of the Hagia Sophia, and the documented rise in antisemitism, underscored witnesses' broader assessment that Turkey is no longer functioning as a democratic state.
AHI continues to call upon the United States to champion religious freedom and democratic principles in Turkey, including official recognition of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the reopening of the Halki Seminary, consistent with America's longstanding commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.