March 22, 2012
An annual United States government report is adding Turkey, as well as Tajikistan, to a list of the worst violators of religious rights.

The report, to be released Tuesday by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, cites Turkey for "systematic and egregious limitations" on religious liberty. Turkey and Tajikistan are among a total of 16 nations listed by the commission as countries of particular concern.

The Turkish ambassador to Washington, Namik Tan, dismissed the commission's action as unjustified.