The Voice of the Martyrs learned this morning that the bodies of three people, including a German, were found with their throats slit at the offices of "Zirve," a Turkish Bible publisher in the southeastern city of Malatya. The victims were found with their hands and feet bound. Two of the dead were reportedly employees of the publishing house. A fourth man died after jumping from the third floor. Police are investigating to determine whether he was one of the assailants. According to Reuters, four people were detained in connection with the attack. One other victim has reportedly been taken to hospital with stab wounds. An official from the publishing house, which also prints other Christian literature, told local television that they had received threats over its publications.
Pray for those who are in hospital. Pray that God would comfort the families of those who have been killed. Pray for Turkish believers who are increasingly under attack.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Turkey, click here.
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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.
Joy Subaşıgüller and her family Photo: Facebook / Joy Subaşıgüller
Last year, at least thirty-five foreign Christian workers were expelled from Turkey, as their permits had been either revoked or denied renewal. So far this year, the number of those forced to leave the country has already reached si
A Christian teacher has been dismissed from her teaching job after the press accused her of conducting missionary activities through social media. Esma Bağci Kaya had been teaching religion and morality at the Hasan Fatma Onal Anadolu High School, a pr
For years, Turkey has placed restrictions on religious leadership training. As a result, many pastors in the country have been foreign nationals. However, new visa restrictions are now being placed on foreign religious workers entering the country.
On April 18th, 2007, three Christian workers at a publishing house in Malatya, Turkey, were tortured and murdered (see this report). Ultimately five men were convicted and given three consecutive life sentences. Although an appeal was heard on January 23r
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