Turkey: Malatya Martyrs
Turkey: Malatya Martyrs
The 36-year-old Turkish believer, Necati, was thrilled to be playing the role of Jesus Christ in an Easter production. Born into an Islamic family, Necati converted to Christianity in 1994. Sitting in the audience that Easter morning were five Muslim men who had befriended Necati. According to Turkish authorities, the men wanted to know more about Christianity. However, Pastor Ihsan Ozbek clarifies, "They were pretending to be seekers."
Ten days later, on April 18th, 2007, the perpetrators' true intensions unravelled in a brutal attack that would shake Turkey's tiny Christian community. The five men stormed into Necati's office on the fourth floor of a building. Armed with kitchen knives, the men tied up Necati and two other Christians: 46-year-old German citizen Tilman Geske; and 32-year-old Ugur Yuksel, another Turkish convert from Islam. All three bound victims were then tragically killed.
Length: 6:17
January 21 2010
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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 republicLegal system
Civil law system derived from various European continental legal systemsSources: 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.
