On the morning of January 28th, two gunmen entered the Santa Maria Catholic Church in Istanbul, Türkiye. Wearing masks, the men walked into the church, shot into the air, and then killed one person. Security footage shows the gun apparently jamming just before the men left.
The victim has been identified as Tuncer Murat Cihan, a Muslim man who had been attending services for the past several weeks. The priest described him as "a good person." It is uncertain if he was specifically targeted by the attackers.
Authorities quickly detained two men: one from Tajikistan and the other from Russia. They are known to be affiliated with ISIS, a militant Islamic group that has since claimed responsibility for the attack. The perpetrators of the incident appear to have acted in response to a call from ISIS leaders to target Jews and Christians.
In response to the attack, church leaders in Türkiye are advising Christians to not succumb to fear. Ali Kalkandeen, who serves as president for the Association of Protestant Churches in Türkiye, reminded Turkish believers that "God has not given us a spirit of fear" (2 Timothy 1:7). He further encouraged them by saying: "Satan will never stop attacking Christians. Do not let this become a stumbling block in our relationship with God." For other reports on the persecution of Christians in Türkiye, go to our country report.
Pray that God will encourage Christians in Türkiye to stand firm in the midst of ongoing oppression, providing them with His divine protection, as well as the wisdom, courage and strength they need to continue leading lives of resilient faith. Pray also that many other people living in this Middle Eastern country will be drawn to the message of the Gospel through the testimonies of His people.
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