Report Reveals Crisis Facing Iranian Christian Women in Turkey: Reformatorisch Dagblad

This is an abbreviated version of the full Dutch article (link below), written by Heleen van de Fliert

Iranian Christian women in Turkey live in dire conditions. They have limited access to healthcare, are exploited and discriminated against in the workplace, and their children are abused at school.

Pia van Belen asked 52 Iranian women living in Turkey about the challenges they face and their living conditions, and conducted 4 in-depth interviews, gaining shocking insights into their hardships, yet also witnessing “how God gives the women strength to persevere.”

She was told by an Iranian woman living in Turkey:

My child was pushed down the stairs at school and broke both their legs. When I asked for the camera footage to find out what happened, they told me the cameras weren’t working.

Van Belen expressed, “Their stories moved me and stayed with me. I wanted to do something for them. With this research report, I want to make their stories visible in the Netherlands, so that their struggles, but also their courage to keep going, do not go unnoticed.”

Reformatorisch Dagblad reached out to Dr. Pooyan Tamimi Arab, Professor of Religious Studies at Utrecht University, who has confirmed the results of the report.

Key report findings include:

Street Controls and Legal Uncertainty

Many women live in constant uncertainty, waiting for residence permit interviews, sometimes for years. Breaking rules, such as traveling to another city or receiving a negative decision, can lead to detention and deportation to Iran without a fair trial. One woman shared:

We’ve been in Turkey for nine years. The immigration service rejected us. We can’t return to Iran. We’re dealing with depression, stress, and fear of deportation or being sent to a camp.

Housing Issues

Rising rent prices, exacerbated by an influx of refugees from Ukraine, Russia, and Syria, make it difficult for Iranian Christian women to find stable housing. Many fear being forced out of their homes.

Workplace Challenges

Iranian refugees face unsafe jobs without work permits, earning less than agreed, and dealing with sexual harassment. Many are afraid to report abuse due to shame and fear.

Discrimination in Schools and Employment

Iranian Christian women struggle to keep jobs after their faith is discovered. Children face verbal and physical abuse in school, especially in Islamic institutions, with many refusing to attend due to fear.

Healthcare Struggles

Many Iranian refugees cannot afford necessary healthcare, with a large proportion forced to delay treatment. Transform Iran helps provide medical supplies, like insulin pumps for diabetics.

Social Isolation and Need for Support

An inspiring idea proposed by the women themselves is the establishment of a women’s center. This center would provide a space for them to gather for Bible study, training sessions, and sharing experiences. Such a center would not only help break through social isolation but also strengthen their emotional wellbeing. However, the travel ban makes it difficult for them to meet in person. Still, this idea reflects the resilience and hope these women hold, despite the challenges they face.

Religious Persecution

Iranian Christian women face the constant threat of deportation to Iran, where converting from Islam is punishable by imprisonment or death. They also endure discrimination in Turkey due to their faith, further isolating them.

Call for Help

Van Belen calls for international support, including legal assistance, financial help, and prayers, to protect these women and address their housing and healthcare needs.

International organizations and churches can make a difference. These women need legal support to avoid deportation and financial help for housing and medical expenses.

Individuals can also help ease their circumstances and make a difference by donating and praying.

Link to the full Dutch article

Header image: Prayer in a Turkish church in Istanbul. Image AFP, Yasin Akgul.

Inset image: Pia van Belen during a visit to Turkey. Image: Pia van Belen.

Originally published on: Reformatorisch Dagblad