According to the official website and annual 2021 report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Turkey and Azerbaijan have been listed among the Special Watch List for “engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom”, making them 2 of the 12 countries on the list. The Report suggests Congress “incorporate consideration of Turkey’s treatment of religious minorities and broader human rights issues into its continued evaluation of the U.S.-Turkey bilateral relationship.” The report also states “The reemergence of active fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories in late September prompted serious concerns about the preservation and protection of Armenian places of worship and other religious sites in those areas” under Azerbaijan. Read more of the report below.
