Turkey tested by expressions of faith

"In the days that followed the February 5 murder of Father Andrea Santoro in his church in the Black Sea port of Trabzon, much discussion has taken place in Turkey as to why he was killed.

This focused mainly on the controversy over the Danish cartoons of Mohammed, and on the work Santoro had done in helping Russian women caught up in organised prostitution.

Some discussion highlighted the fact that there was Christian literature, in Turkish, at the back of Santoro’s church.

Clearly, the killer - who was quickly arrested - was influenced by his own religious convictions and an identity with extremist Islam. He shouted a religious slogan to justify his deed, and made a confession to the police that indicated the religious significance of the murder."

"Listening to ‘‘liberal’’ voices within Turkey, it is clear that any attempt by foreigners to express or commend Christianity in Turkish is regarded as ‘‘missionary’’ and thus unacceptable.

Many conscientious Christians would be seen as ‘‘missionary’’ in the traditional Turkish sense of the word."

"Should Turkey draw on the great breadth of her history and open herself up to the reasonable norms - as expressed in the European Convention on Human Rights - of the societies whose friendship she now espouses?"
Turkey tested by expressions of faith