On September 23, The Columbia University Institute for the Study of Human Rights’ Peacebuilding and Rights Program and Justice for Kurds presented a webinar, “Targeting Religious Minorities in Turkey.” Panelists discussed issues relating to the religious freedom of Christians in Turkey, and to the Turkish government’s systematic deprivation of the rights of Christian institutions, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the organizations of other religious minorities.

The panelists include some of the world’s leading authorities on the plight of Christians and other religious minorities in Turkey, including Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Visiting Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution at The Fletcher School for Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University; Pastor Andrew Brunson, Former Pastor for the Izmir Dirilis Church, who was imprisoned for several years by the Erdogan regime for his activities on behalf of Christians in Turkey; Amberin Zaman, Senior Correspondent for Al-Monitor; and author and activist Raffi Bedrosyan.

The panel was moderated by David L. Phillips, who is the director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights of the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University.