Recent Update from Turkey

07 February 2007

^{Strict security control at the men's court appearance was due to the recent assassination of journalist Hrant Dink.
Photo from}^{Compass Direct}

Hakan Tastan and Turan Topal, two Christians on trial in Turkey on charges of "insulting Turkishness" and inciting hatred against Islam (click here for more details), had their second court appearance on January 29. The hearing was heavily secured and the two men were under heightened police protection. The strict security control was attributed to the recent assassination of prominent Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who had been tried and convicted under the same restrictive law against freedom of speech under which Tastan and Topal were charged.

During the hearing, one of the three accusers, Fatih Kose (23), took the witness stand for the first time. Kose testified about why he entered Topal's church and where and when he allegedly heard Tastan and Topal make "illegal" statements. However, the testimony was extremely contradictory. The next hearing is scheduled for April 18. Pray that the truth in this case will come out and that all charges against Topal and Tastan will be dropped.

For more information on persecution of Christians in Turkey, click here.

Turkey

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Country Information
Population
83,593,483 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Turkish (70-75), Kurdish (19), other minorities (7-12)

Religion (%)
Islam (99.8), other (0.2)

Leader
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2014)

Government type
Parliamentary republic

Legal system
Civil law system derived from various European continental legal systems

Sources: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Turkey
Prayerfully uphold those who have had their churches and places of worship taken over by a government that does not represent their beliefs, values or ordinances. Ask the Lord to oversee the mediation process as church officials and government representatives endeavour to work out a solution that is both honouring to Him and fair to all the members of the various churches. Despite the challenges experienced by the believers of this country, may they have a sense of God's reassuring presence and peace, knowing that one day He will reign supremely and justly over the entire earth.