Catholic Priest Attacked in Turkey

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Only days after Father Andrea Santoro was shot to death by a Turkish youth, a group of seven or eight young Muslim men burst into St. Helen's Church in Izmir on February 12.  The men grabbed Father Martin Kmetec by the throat and threatened, "We are going to finish you off in the name of God."  Father Kmetec managed to break away and slammed the rectory door.  After trying unsuccessfully to break the door down, the men left.

When Kmetec initially reported the incident to the police, they paid little attention.  It was only after a third-party reported the incident to police that they took the incident seriously.  Police protection has since been provided to Father Kmetec.

Pray that Father Kmetec will find his rest in the Lord. Pray that the young men who attacked him will soften their hearts to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Pray that there will be protection for all Christians in Turkey. Ask God to influence the police toward greater cooperation with Christians.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in Turkey, click here.

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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 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.

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Türkiye News

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