Turkey has implemented ID cards with an electronic chip inside. One of several pieces of information gathered is a person’s religious affiliation. While religious affiliation isn’t written on the outside of the card, it is embedded inside the card’s chip.
Information inside the chip can be accessed by employers and those with Turkish government connections, which has led to the persecution of Christians, according to Open Doors. Though Turkey claims it doesn’t have a national religion, anyone who identifies as a Christian or any religion other than Islam is culturally viewed as being disloyal to Turkey.
Anyone claiming to be a Christian typically experiences coercion from their relatives and their community to renounce their Christianity. The Turkish government doesn’t usually penalize employers who discriminate against Christians.
The Turkish government has implemented codes it refers to as N82 and G87, which it uses as a political weapon, typically against Protestant missionaries. An N82 code functions as a ban on entering the country, while G87 is used for deportation among those the government claims are a “risk to general safety,” according to International Christian Concern.
U. S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Wants Turkey on Watch List
The United States has highlighted Turkey as one of eleven countries that should be placed on The State Department’s Special Watch List (SWL) because of their persecution of and lack of tolerance toward Christians, according to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) 2024 annual report.
“Twenty-five years after IRFA’s passage, many individuals and communities around the world still cannot freely practice their religion or belief. USCIRF is disheartened by the deteriorating conditions in many countries, as highlighted in the Annual Report. It is vital that the President, Secretary of State, and Congress implement the recommendations in this year’s report,” said USCIRF Chair Abraham Cooper.
He noted that over the 25 years that USCIRF was created, “…it is more important now than ever to ensure that promoting freedom of religion or belief remains a key tenet of U.S. foreign policy. USCIRF’s independence and bipartisanship enable it to identify threats of religious freedom abroad unflinchingly, and despite there being dissent on certain issues included in the Annual Report, Commissioners remain committed to advancing religious freedom for all.”
Turkey has been increasing efforts to put policies in place that tend to favor Suni Islam and oppress Christianity, according to the report. These have included actions such as refusing to allow Christians to open places of worship or Christian schools, fines, imprisonment, and instances of violence, to name just a few examples. According to the report, one of the complications of placing Turkey on the watch list is that Turkey is a close ally of the United States.
Other Countries Using Microchip ID Cards
Several other countries are using some type of ID card with an electronic chip. According to Eupedia, most European countries are now using biometric ID cards with an electronic chip and/or contactless NFC (near-field communication) microchip.
The country of Sweden has taken things one step further. According to NPR, technology has been introduced to the Swedish people that allows them to have a tiny microchip implanted under their skin in their hands. The microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and can store emergency contact information, social media profiles, e-tickets for travel, and other information.
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