A report on Turkey by the European Commission in November highlighted the ongoing persecution of Christians in 2016, stating that ‘hate speech and hate crimes against Christians and Jews continued to be repeatedly reported’.
Typical incidents recorded by churches include Islamic anti-Christian posters and graffiti being placed near church buildings, anonymous threats sent by text and email to pastors, as well as physical attacks. In many cases, no official action is taken by police.
‘Christians a security threat’
Since the apparent attempted coup in July 2016, the Turkish Government has cracked down on Christian activity, citing national security concerns. The pastor of a church in Izmir was arrested for ‘threatening national security’ and several foreign nationals involved in Christian ministry have recently had residence permits rescinded.
The tiny Christian minority in Turkey now live in a climate of growing instability. Earlier in 2016, the Islamic call to prayer was recited inside the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul for the first time in 85 years; originally a Byzantine church, the Hagia Sophia was later converted into a mosque before officially becoming a museum, but there are growing demands from Islamists, supported by President Erdogan, to resume Muslim worship permanently inside the building.
Six churches seized
In April, the government seized six church buildings in south-east Turkey and Christians continue to be discriminated against in legal cases over property, a fact highlighted by the European Commission’s report: ‘Court cases on property restitution continued, including on ownership of the land on which the Syriac Orthodox Mor Gabriel Monastery is built … Latin Catholic churches still have neither legal personality nor foundation status, making it impossible for them to register property or seek restitution.’
Christians in Turkey face hatred, threats and physical violence in a context of increasing political repression and government-sponsored Islamisation; the church in Turkey needs prayer.
