An ideal multicultural Turkey can show the way - Turkish Daily News Jun 20, 2007

"Hakan Akçura, painter, poet and video performance artist, who implemented the “Love at the Hatred Tunnel” Project, is presenting his attitude toward discrimination and racism along with the visual works he prepared."

"Akçura said that he was concerned about the racist messages posted on the Internet right after the Dink assassination. The period that started with Dink's assassination has prepared the ground for a nationalist wave to continue, he said. He noted that the “wave” continues even as wounds have not yet healed, other nationalist attacks have followed, including the killing in May of three missionaries in Malatya."
An ideal multicultural Turkey can show the way - Turkish Daily News Jun 20, 2007

Turkish Weekly Opinion - The Ferocity in Malatya is the Heritage of Hrant Dink Murder?

"I can’t get rid of my gloomy mood since I have heard the news about the attack on a publishing house that propagates the Bible and about the murder of 3 people committed by 5 men in Malatya who claim that these victims were propagandizing Christianity and working as missionaries. Why? For what reason could such kind of ferocity be committed? How can one demean himself this much? At the risk of embarrassing our religion, nation and ethics, what for such kind of murder could be committed? Is it not possible to end that kind of inhuman ferocity?



It is apparently so easy to corrupt aimless and chronically tense people. Then, who does corrupt them? The number of these questions may be improved; however we can remove obscurity about the ferocity in Malatya through two basic approaches. The first one is subject of security, criminal and justice in which works are mostly speculation or lack of information until specific reports will be issued by prosecutor and other investigators related to the case. On the other hand, the second method is rather close to the researchers in order to identify the process of murder as well as to help the identification. The main debate in analysis of these kinds of murders is the consideration of the process causing murders, an attempt to resolve under what circumstances men could be corrupted and by which reason men could simply commit murder and later putting forward a formula through emphasizing on external factors causing the process."
Turkish Weekly Opinion - The Ferocity in Malatya is the Heritage of Hrant Dink Murder?

If George Orwell were a Turkish journalist... - Turkish Daily News Jun 20, 2007

"Certain reactions to the mass demonstrations held in various cities just recently precisely exemplify this phenomenon. Do you remember those who implied that the insane massacre of three Christians in Malatya was presumably the outcome of the mindset of these gatherings' participants? Do you remember persistent efforts at trying to find similarities between the mass demonstrations on the one hand, and “Mussolini's march to power” on the other?"
If George Orwell were a Turkish journalist... - Turkish Daily News Jun 20, 2007

Turkey's Christians like AK despite Islamist past

Note: This article doesn't take into account the Protestant minority.

"Its foes like to accuse Turkey's ruling AK Party of plotting to create an Iranian-style Islamic state, but many among the country's Christian minority seem to prefer the alleged Islamists to more secular parties."

" Turkey is overwhelmingly Muslim but hosts several ancient Christian communities -- dwindling remnants of sizeable populations that prospered for centuries in the Muslim-led but multi-ethnic, multi-faith Ottoman Empire.

Modern Turkey was founded on the empire's ashes in 1923.

Those communities include some 70,000 Armenians and 20,000 Greek Orthodox -- mostly based in Istanbul -- and 20,000 Syriac Christians, who speak a form of Aramaic, the language of Jesus.

Turkey's Christians have often voted in the past for secular parties such as the centre-left CHP, analysts say. But the CHP has joined a rising tide of Turkish nationalism, making Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party a more attractive option."
Scotsman.com Business - Latest News - Turkey's Christians like AK despite Islamist past

Antalya rotating hotel draws more traffic - Turkish Daily News Jun 15, 2007

Wouldn't you like to stay in the world's first revolving hotel? Get in line!

Antalya rotating hotel draws more traffic - Turkish Daily News Jun 15, 2007

Uncivil society under a jealous god - Turkish Daily News Jun 09, 2007

"And here lies I think, the mother of many problems in Turkey. The state is just too powerful, dominant and vigilant. It is, to recall an ancient text of wisdom, like a “jealous God,” which wants to see no other identities and ideologies before him."
Uncivil society under a jealous god - Turkish Daily News Jun 09, 2007

WEA Religious Liberty Commission on Turkey, Europe & the Challenge of Islam

Really good interview with the head of the World Evangelical Alliance's Religious Liberty Commission:

"The recent horrific killings of three Bible workers in Turkey once again threw the international spotlight on religious liberty and the ongoing persecution of Christians in many countries around the world.

Christian Today spoke to Johan Candelin, head of the World Evangelical Alliance’s Religious Liberty Commission, to find out more about some of the challenges facing the worldwide Christian community"

"With a few exceptions, like Brazil and a couple of states in Central America, the church is growing under pressure.

I don’t think it is growing because it is persecuted. I think it is persecuted because it is growing. We should avoid a romantic approach that says if we are persecuted then the churches would be full. I don’t think that would be the case. If there is pressure on the church it will either die or grow. It will never stay the same. It is the untold story of our time."

CT: And nationalism is a big challenge in Turkey where the three Bible workers were recently murdered. What implication is that going to have for Christians living in Turkey?

JC: Well, I think what happened in Turkey was no surprise and I met with a couple of Christians a few weeks ago when I was there who said this is not the beginning of the end but the beginning of the beginning and that there will be more of this.

Turkey is very different from all other nations because for historical reasons Turkey has a very split identity. You have one part promoting Islam but then you have another part which is very strongly nationalist. And then in the middle you have a group of very Western-minded Turks who would love to see Turkey join the European Union. So there is a fight within Turkey for the mind of the new generation and it would be interesting to see who will come out as the winners.

But the losers are the Christians because they are targeted. The ugly word in Turkey is ‘missionary activity’. When you ask them how they understand that, they say it means an agent for a foreign country who is paid by that nation to split the Turkish nation. They don’t see it in religious terms at all, as we do, but in completely political terms.

But if Turkey joins the European Union then it will surely have an effect on other nations with a Muslim majority. It could be a prototype for a new kind of partnership. But it is a long way to the European Union for Turkey."
WEA Religious Liberty Commission on Turkey, Europe & the Challenge of Islam

A Showdown In Ankara - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com

"Yet Turkey itself is increasingly divided. The secular establishment is deathly afraid of losing more power to the AKP, which draws much of its support from poor, pious Muslims. Secularists despise the party, and are sure that, given the opportunity, it would use the state to promote Islam in all aspects of Turkish life.

I was confronted by such attitudes on a recent trip. One friend, a professor, insisted, "You simply miss the increasing pressures that religious elements are impinging on our daily existence." He and others cited a mass of anecdotal evidence: their children are being harassed, liquor is getting harder to come by, religion has become the key to promotion in public institutions, and many parts of Istanbul now look more and more like the Middle East—boys and girls separated in many public places and women covered from head to foot. "Is this what Ataturk fought for?" I heard over and over. A prominent mathematician said: "You Americans believe in moderate Islam. There is no such thing."
Worldview: A Showdown In Ankara - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com

Police complete investigations at Zirve - Turkish Daily News May 31, 2007

"The director of the Zirve publishing house, Hamza Ozant, spoke to the Turkish Daily News, choosing his words carefully.

'The police have finished their investigations in the publishing house and have handed it back to us. We will decide what to do in time,' he said. He explained that Zirve is not operating currently, but is not closed either.

The answer seems indicative of nervousness on the part of Christians in Turkey who have been under increased attacks over the past month. There were three attacks and attempts to burn down the church in Eskişehir in the past two weeks; the pastor of a church in Samsun has received serious death threats that claim "it will be worse than Malatya," if he does not leave. On Monday, two Georgian priests touring Turkey were beaten in Artvin because they claimed to be missionaries."

"ome of the city's Christians were hesitant after the killings, even considering going elsewhere to express their faith more openly, a Protestant living in Malatya said. Most of them, however, were relieved to hear that Zirve was staying in town. 'They don't want people to think that three people dying has made them give up their faith,' he explained. Zirve has been the most public face of the Christian community in Malatya and its closure would have given the wrong message. 'It would give the impression to people who sympathize with the killers that this kind of strategy works.'

Almost every day over the last month, he has had at least one phone call from locals giving condolences and expressing their regret for the killings. 'Most people condemn the attacks, but we have heard that more macho males have said 'that was good'; that they were glad the missionaries died,' he said.

But Malatya does not deserve to be remembered by the killings, and residents will not condone them, said İbrahim Göçmen, the editor-in chief and owner of the weekly Son Nokta. 'Malatya has lived with Armenian and non-Muslim citizens together until today, and goes on to live together as well. We hope that it does not happen again.'"
Police complete investigations at Zirve - Turkish Daily News May 31, 2007

Turkey: Arrests In Plot Against Pastor

"Police in Diyarbakir, Turkey, have arrested six people suspected of plotting an attack against a Protestant pastor, according to a May 30 Turkish news agency report. Some of the detainees are thought to have had contacts with suspects involved in the April killing of three Christians in Malatya, Turkey. The pastor had said earlier that he was being threatened."
Stratfor

The Religious-Secular Divide and the Battle for Turkey's Future

"Religious Turks, despite their recent elevation from the fringes of Turkish society into the higher echelons of politics, still harbour resentment against the state. "It is retaliation time," as one shopkeeper told me during a recent visit to Turkey. "It is time to revolt against the excesses of Atatürk."

"Fears of such an Islamist revolution have led hundreds of thousands of Turks to march in various cities in the past month. Now, if the same zeal can be applied to the July 22 voting for president, the heart of the holiday season for non-AKP voters, there just might be hope for the great legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk."
World Politics Review | The Religious-Secular Divide and the Battle for Turkey's Future

Turkey Must Protect Minorities

"Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I wants Turkey's Christians to share the same rights as Muslims both in that country and in all Europe."

"Acknowledging the parliamentarian's presence, Bartholomew I observed, "Is it not a cause for celebration to see our Muslim brothers actively participate in the civil life of European Countries, as is witnessed by the presence here today of the German [member of the European Parliament] of Turkish origins, Cem Ozdemir?

"We do not only want the freedom to celebrate our faith within our churches, but also the recognition of all civil rights, just as our fellow Muslims in Turkey. The same civil rights which our Muslim brothers have, and rightly so, in Europe."
Zenit News Agency - The World Seen From Rome

Exclusive Interivew: Father Jonathan in Turkey

Fox News video interview with Semse, the widow of Necati Aydin.
FOXNews.com - Exclusive Interivew: Father Jonathan in Turkey - FOX Fan

Malatya Martyrs: Oaks of Righteousness - World - CBN News

News report, with video, on the Malatya murders and the fallout afterward:

"The media unfortunately has repeatedly depicted missionaries as the fifth column of Western imperialism, and this Western imperialism supposedly tries to carve up Turkey into pieces," said Mustafa Akyol, Turkish Daily News.

And it's not just the media. Turkey's National Security Council has listed missionaries and several evangelical groups as threats to the country.

"They have set us up as a target for someone or whoever wants to make himself a hero," Jerry Mattix, missionary to Turkey, said. "and you know the government and the media are saying that these people are poisoning the minds of individuals and youth. And so anybody, any youth, will get up and say, 'Hey, you know if I kill one of these, then I'll look good.'"
Malatya Martyrs: Oaks of Righteousness - World - CBN News

Persecution Continues in Malatya

Since the events of last month, many events have happened to continue persecution against the Church in Malatya:

--Someone has made a list of the believers and workers, including pictures of many, and it is being circulated hand to hand, the purpose being to encourage action against the believers. 15 of the 30 members of the church have left.

--Believers in Malatya say that as a result when they are recognized on the street, people look at them and make a throat-cutting motion, meaning, "you're next!"

--One worker's name, picture and address were published in a national paper, again an encouragement to act against him.

--The "secret" depostion of the leading murderer was illegally leaked to the press by the police (the papers told enquirers that the police had supplied it). In the report he accused the murdered believers of outrageous things, like being linked to terrorists, of running a prostitution ring to attract people to Christianity, of insulting Turkey and Islam, etc. He also named believers from other cities whom he had met; their names and addresses and in some case pictures were in the paper; this is a common way of encouraging people to act against the believers.

Please continue to pray for the Church in Turkey.