The government of Turkey continued to limit the rights of non-Muslim minorities, says the International Religious Freedom Report for 2014 issued by State Department.

The report touched upon the case of Armenian-Turkish soldier Sevag Balikci, in which another soldier had been convicted on the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. The report mentions that the court's finding did not satisfy the victim's family.

The government continued to interpret the 1923 Lausanne Treaty, which refers broadly to “non-Muslim minorities,” as granting special legal minority status exclusively to three recognized groups: Armenian Orthodox Christians, Jews, and Greek Orthodox Christians. The government did not recognize the leadership or administrative structures of these groups (e.g., the patriarchates and chief rabbinate) as legal entities, leaving them unable to buy or hold title to property or to press claims in court.

The report notes that the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox Patriarchates were unable to train their clerics in monastic seminaries within the country.

“During the year, the government returned 25 properties to religious community foundations, declined 170 applications for lack of evidence or because they were found to be duplicative, while 970 applications remained pending,” the report reads.