Turkey criticized a US report on religious freedoms that listed Turkey among the world's worst violators of religious freedoms, saying it considers the document "null and void.", pro-government newspaper Today's Zaman reported.
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the report, prepared by the bipartisan US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), fails to acknowledge steps that Turkey has taken in recent years to protect religious freedoms and minority rights. "No impartial observer could take allegations in this report, which intentionally turns a blind eye to the steps forward and the political will that has constituted the basis for the reforms, seriously," the statement said. "This report is null and void for us."
The report grouped Turkey among 15 other nations in its "countries of particular concern" category for "systematic and egregious limitations" of religious freedoms. The ranking was a sharp downgrade from Turkey's less-severe status as a watch-listed country in years past.
For more: Turkey slams US report on religious freedoms - Trend
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