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Turkey

• Pastor Brunson Remains in Custody

  

  Despite the hopes of many around the world that Pastor Andrew Brunson would be released from custody after his latest hearing on July 17th, a judge ruled that he is to remain at least until his next hearing on October 12th.

  Pastor Brunson, an American who served the Izmir Resurrection Church for more than 20 years, is facing allegations of conspiring to overthrow the government and espionage. Officials claim that he has been conspiring with a Muslim cleric who is living in exile in the United States. For more information on this case, visit this page.

• Trial Date Set for Accused Pastor
  
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  After many months' delay, it was recently announced that the trial for American pastor, Andrew Brunson, is to begin on April 16th. Pastor Brunson has been accused of being connected with a Muslim cleric living in exile in the U.S., Fethullah Gülen, as well as having links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party that's been working to establish an independent Kurdistan. The indictment stated that Pastor Brunson was allegedly involved in converting Kurds to Christianity and aiming to establish a Kurdish state for them.

• Bomb Scare Aims to Increase Intimidation
  
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  Staff members of Santa Maria Catholic Church in Trabzon were alarmed when they found the smouldering remains of a homemade pipe bomb in their church garden on the morning of February 4th. Thankfully it had failed to explode. Local authorities checked security camera footage and spoke with neighbours but have not identified any suspect.

• Imprisoned Pastor Pens Worship Song
  
  Photo: Release International

  Pastor Andrew Brunson is still behind bars in Turkey -- a year after he was initially arrested -- yet his faith remains strong. The American pastor faces four life sentences, based on allegations that he was involved in a plot to overthrow the Turkish government, even though he strongly denies these charges. (For more information on this case, click here.)

• Imprisoned Pastor Facing Serious Charges

  
  Pastor Andrew Brunson and his wife Norine
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  On August 24th, Pastor Andrew Brunson was connected via video link from the maximum-security prison where he is presently being held. The judge at the Second Criminal Court in Izmir read out allegations from the chief prosecutor's office that Pastor Brunson had obtained confidential political and military information for espionage purposes, specifically to "overthrow" the Turkish parliament and government, and thus undermine the constitutional order of the state.

• Pastor Detained After Helping Refugees

  
  Rev. Andrew Brunson
  Photo: aclj.org

  On October 7th of last year, Rev. (Dr.) Andrew Brunson and his wife Norine were arrested in Izmir, Turkey, where they have been residents for 23 years. The pastoring couple were held as a threat to national security, although it is believed that the real reason for the arrest is related to their Christian relief work with refugees from Syria (including Kurds). They were denied access to either lawyers or consular assistance for over four weeks.

  Following some publicity in the Turkish national press, and action on the part of the United States Embassy, Norine was released on October 19th. However, to date, Rev. Brunson remains in detention. Turkish officials have since tried to impose on him the signing of a waiver falsely attesting that he did not request consular assistance.

  Negotiations between the U.S. Embassy and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs resulted in a consular official finally being allowed to meet with Rev. Brunson on November 5th, and again on November 30th.

  The ministering couple had previously signed papers agreeing to comply with a deportation order. However, the official in charge marked a box on the document to indicate that this agreement applied to a "leader, member, or supporter of a terrorist organization." (This accusation was based on the testimony of a secret informant whose claim has also been used to prevent the pastor's lawyer from accessing the case file.)

  On December 9th, the accused pastor was moved to the Counter Terrorism Department, and from there taken to the court for questioning. The lawyer, having just met his client for the first time, was also in attendance. Following the court appearance, Rev. Brunson was transferred to Izmir Aliaga Prison. A previously posted prayer alert report on this case is available here.

  Please uphold Rev. Andrew Brunson in prayer, asking that the slanderous accusations and falsified documents against him will hold no credence in court, and that all charges against him will be quickly dismissed. May God's presence and peace surround the faithful Christian leader, serving as his strength and refuge during this time of uncertainty and need. Additionally, pray for his wife Norine, their children, and fellow believers in Turkey who are also in need of strength and the ongoing assurance that the Lord is indeed working all things together for good to those who love Him...and for His ultimate glory.

  If you wish to participate in a letter-writing campaign on behalf of the imprisoned pastor, more information is available here.

• Prolonged State of Emergency

  
  Many churches in Turkey have seen a drop in attendance due to a prolonged state of emergency.

  The Turkish government has extended its state of emergency for an additional period of time, raising concerns of citizens throughout the country. The state of emergency was ordered in July, after 270 people were killed in a failed coup attempt.

  Police officers have been commissioned to stand on guard during church services for the protection of worshippers. Yet, as believers feel intimidated by their presence, church attendance has dropped. The state of emergency also prevents church leaders from reaching out to people in the streets as they had formally done. To review other reports on persecution in Turkey, visit our online country profile.

  Ask the Lord to strengthen the faith of the Christians in Turkey, also granting their church leaders wisdom so that effective ministry can continue to take place within their communities. May the police officers standing on guard during the various church services be stirred in both heart and spirit as they witness the believers' sincere expressions of praise and worship, and hear the timely messages preached by their pastors. Pray that God will quench any feelings of intimidation or fear by giving His people a renewed sense of assurance, peace and joy -- enabling them to unite together in celebration of His faithfulness and ongoing ministry in each of their lives.

• Christian Couple Detained Incommunicado

  
  Andrew and Norine Brunson
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  Turkish officials in the coastal city of Izmir detained American Christians Andrew and Norine Brunson on October 7th. Fortunately, Norine was released on October 19th, but authorities are still holding her husband incommunicado in an Izmir detention facility.

  Rev. Brunson and his wife were refused any contact with U.S. consular officials and lawyers since their detention, under Interior Ministry orders for deportation within 15 days on alleged "national security" grounds. To date, no reason for the expulsion order has been given to the couple who have lived in Turkey for over 20 years.

  Although initial attempts by members of the Izmir Resurrection Church to send personal effects to their pastor and his wife were refused by officials, during the week of October 19th parcels of fresh clothing and medicine were finally permitted. The police would not, however, allow a Bible to be given to the couple.

  It remains unclear whether Rev. Brunson will be deported or remain in custody. In the meantime, he has been transferred to the Cigli detention centre, which is situated in the northern part of Izmir. To learn more about persecution in Turkey, click here.

  Let us praise God for Norine's recent release from detention, praying that her husband will soon be reunited with her in freedom. In the meantime, may Andrew be granted opportunities to share Christ's love with his guards and fellow prisoners. Pray that once Andrew is released, the Brunsons will be able to remain in Turkey to continue with their ministry to the people of this historical land.

• Government Seizure of Six Churches

  
  Worshippers celebrate the reconsecration of the Surp Giragos Armenian Apostolic Church in 2011.
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  After ten months of urban conflict in Turkey's war-torn southeast, the government has expropriated huge sections of property, apparently to rebuild and restore the historical centre of the region's largest city of Diyarbakir. But to the dismay of the city's handful of Christian congregations -- including all its Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches -- it also means the relinquishment of control. Unlike the state-funded mosques, Turkey's ancient church buildings (some of which pre-date Islam) have been managed historically by church foundations. The new decision has effectively made the Diyarbakir churches state property of Turkey, an Islamic country consisting of 75 million people.

  Perhaps the most shocking seizure involved the Virgin Mary Church in the Lalabey neighbourhood. The 1,700-year-old Syriac Orthodox church claims to contain relics that are especially meaningful to Christians such as a piece of the cross and the bones of the Apostle Thomas. The present leader of the church announced that he is currently negotiating with government representatives in hopes of having the church property returned.

  Local municipal officials criticized the government for lacking legal justification for the takeover and potentially causing enormous social and cultural damage to the city. Government officials argue that the decision was even-handed as mosque properties were also expropriated in the move. However, in Turkey, mosques are already state property, since the government funds their construction, maintenance, as well as the salaries of their imams. Further information on persecution in this country is available at the Turkey Country Report.

  Please uphold these Christians in Turkey 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's both honouring to Him and fair to all the members of the various churches involved. Throughout the process, may the believers experience a complete sense of God's peace, knowing that all the earth is ultimately His, and everything in it. Also important is the fact that no one can ever take away their faith, nor their great love for Him.

• Historical Church Permitted to Continue Services

  
  A worship service at Bursa’s
  French Church Cultural Centre
  led by Pastor Ismail.
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  Church-going Christians in Bursa, a large city located within northwest Turkey, were ordered by officials to vacate their premises by February 26th. We are delighted to report that on the 23rd, three days before the previously announced deadline, city authorities had rescinded the order to vacate. Various congregations share the historic "French church" dating back to the 1880s -- the only recognized place of Christian worship in Bursa.

  For decades, the church sat in ruins. Aykan Erdemir, a Turkish academic who grew up in Bursa and is now a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told reporters that as a child he played among the piles of rubble with friends. He saw the church's reopening as a symbol of Bursa rediscovering its multicultural past.

  Upon news of the initial eviction order, Aykan was mindful of Turkey's failure to institutionalize religious freedom for its non-Muslim minority. "Christians do not have any legal entitlement to the building. They only have usage rights for the time being, which I think is a very precarious situation," he explains. "Members of non-majority religions have to depend on the goodwill of bureaucrats and the majority population. Such problems will continue to happen until religious minorities have property rights for their houses of worship and restitution rights to use their historical churches."

  The church remains a symbol of the struggle experienced by the city's non-Muslims to become an accepted part of society. Pastor Ismail Kulakciolgu, who represents one of the four congregations that regularly conduct worship services at the historical church, tried to convince the council that Bursa would lose a priceless piece of its cultural heritage if the congregations were forced out of their building: "We're trying to explain that this church, which is used as a house of worship by different congregations, is perhaps the only example of its kind in the world."

  Additional reports, including informative video clips, pertaining to persecution in this country are available at the Turkey Country Report.

  Let us join together in praising God for the permission that was recently granted by local governing officials to the members of this multicultural church in Turkey, allowing for the continuance of their worship services. Pray that as these Christians, representing various denominational affiliations, gather peacefully in this beautiful sanctuary of worship, their special bond of unity and love will serve as a strong witness to others in the city of Bursa and throughout Turkey. Also pray that their Turkish society will champion religious liberty for all of the country's citizens.