Persecution of Christians in Turkey has been intensifying, with targeted attacks on churches marking both the beginning and end of 2024. In January, gunfire struck Eskişehir Salvation Church when the building was empty, and in December a man fired from his car at a Salvation Church association in Istanbul while shouting threats: “Oh, infidels, you will be defeated and swept up into hell!” Such incidents have highlighted a troubling trend recognized by watchdog groups like International Christian Concern (ICC). Earlier this year, Turkey climbed five spots on Open Doors’ World Watch List, ranking 45th among the hardest places to be a Christian. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has since called on the State Department to add Turkey to its Special Watch List.

International Christian groups, including the World Evangelical Alliance and Open Doors, raised concerns at the UN Human Rights Council over Turkey’s denial of legal recognition for churches, which hinders Christian worship. Local pastors like Ramazan Arkan testified about persistent discrimination and government indifference toward Christian minorities. Missionaries face deportation, denied residency permits and branded as security threats, leaving many congregations without leadership. Online hate speech has also surged, targeting church accounts, leaders, and Christian values. Some churches have closed, and others have lost pastors to forced departure or voluntary exile. The Turkish Association of Protestant Churches’ Human Rights Report captures the gravity of the situation: persecution is worsening, yet there remains a desperate call for more Christian workers to rise up and sustain the embattled Church in Turkey.

SOURCE: International Christian Concern