Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 177 – Wed 17 July 2002

———————————————— TURKEY: TENSION AND HARRASSMENT ————————————————

While Turkey is 99.64 percent Muslim, it is strongly committed to the concept of a secular state. Only 3 percent of Turkey is located in Europe, and 97 percent in Asia, yet socially and politically Turkey leans towards Europe and has in fact received official candidate status for the European Union – the first step towards the full membership Turkey is seeking. The country is presently experiencing considerable political turmoil.

Tensions exist within Turkish society, between religious and secular forces. The religious forces desire Muslim solidarity and stronger ties to neighbouring Muslim states. The secular forces see Europe and secular politics as the way forward. In Turkey, religious freedom is a Constitutional right and is upheld by the government, the judiciary and the army. Meanwhile, some politicians, many police and all Islamists are extremely hostile to Christianity, which they see as European and opposed to all that is essentially and historically Turkish. These tensions appear to be increasing.

Those opposed to Christianity often use ambiguous laws as their means to prosecute, harass and persecute the Church. While the courts generally dismiss these cases, the court proceedings are costly, stressful and intimidating. The harassment the Church suffers has caused multitudes of believers to either flee or emigrate to a better life.

On 14 June, the Turkish security police ordered the closure of the New Testament Church that had been meeting for 40 years in Iskenderun. The reason given in the directive, “…your activities will incite religious, sectarian and dervish-order discrimination; will harm religious and national feelings; and will create offense in the society.” Although the church had been meeting in this location for the past 7 years without any complaints, the directive also alleged that the church’s location had not been approved in the municipal zoning plan. The church has employed a lawyer to prepare and file their case before the administrative courts.

In Diyarbakir, Protestant pastor Ahmet Guvener has been charged with making illegal changes in the architectural plan of his nearly completed church building. However, the underlying objection voiced to the council by the governor of Diyarbakir was over the building’s intended use for worship by Turkish Christians. Pastor Guvener’s next hearing is set for 8 October. These cases are examples of pure harassment. Other Christian ministries have reported harassment also, including the deportation of some foreign Christian workers. In spite of this, there is much interest in the gospel and the Church is growing.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR

* God to be present and active in Turkey’s current political turmoil – may His will be done. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to the Lord.” Psalm 24:1

* Turkey’s churches to be able to exist, worship and witness without harassment, as is their Constitutional right.

* great spiritual wisdom and strength for Turkey’s Christians, for pastors and all believers, so they can persevere in grace and not be tempted to respond out of frustration or discouragement.

* God to continue building his Church in Turkey, where “the believers were first called Christians.” (Antioch, now Antakya. Acts 11:26)

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ——————————————————————- TURKEY: TENSION AND HARRASSMENT

While Turkey is a secular state, tensions exist between religious elements that desire stronger ties to neighbouring Muslim states, and others who consider Europe and secular politics as the way forward. The government’s aggressive promotion of secularism and its moves to join the European Union (EU) are causing the tensions to slowly and quietly escalate within elements of Turkey’s 99.64 percent Muslim-majority society. In Turkey, religious freedom is a Constitutional right and is upheld by the government and the judiciary. However, some politicians, many police and all Islamists are hostile to Christianity, which they see as European and opposed to all that is essentially and historically Turkish. They regularly use ambiguous laws to prosecute and harass the Church. Several cases of harassment against churches are presently before the courts. Pray for wisdom, grace and justice.

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Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.