UNESCO Responds to Hagia Sophia ConversionNovember 22, 2020 — 11/22/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – Following comments from the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, that UNESCO is “not bothered by the fact that it became...
Turkey Again Confuses Faith Tourism and Religious FreedomNovember 19, 2020 — 11/19/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – Turkey has again confused faith tourism and religious freedom in the announcement that the Imera Monastery has been partially restored. It is acknowledged that...
Hagia Triada Church to Become Cultural MuseumNovember 15, 2020 — 11/15/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – The long neglected Greek Orthodox Church of Hagia Triada, located on Turkey’s coast with the Aegean Sea, has been approved for renovations and its...
Syrian Mercenaries Serious Threat to Caucasus’ ChristiansNovember 14, 2020 — 11/14/2020 Syria (International Christian Concern) – While visiting the Holy See on Wednesday, the Armenian ambassador expressed concern that Turkey’s recruitment of Syrian Islamic extremists to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone...
Pompeo Lists Religious Freedom as a Priority Prior to Istanbul TripNovember 12, 2020 — 11/12/2020 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) - On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department released a statement on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s upcoming trip to Turkey to meet with the...
Turkey Declares Azerbaijani Gains in Armenia a “Sacred Success”November 10, 2020 — 11/10/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) - After more than a month of fighting, Turkey has signed an agreement ending fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, securing gains for its ally Azerbaijan....
Turkey’s Orthodox Challenge Hagia Sophia ConversionNovember 9, 2020 — 11/09/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – Turkish Orthodox Christians have applied to the Council of State for the reversal of Hagia Sophia’s reconversion into a mosque, saying that the decision...
Greeks in Turkey Remain on EdgeNovember 7, 2020 — 11/07/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – A report by Ekathimerini documents how ethnic Greeks living in Turkey’s capital of Istanbul are on edge because of the country's geopolitical conflicts. Interviewees...
Turkey Fines Social Media Companies over Noncompliance with Censorship LawsNovember 6, 2020 — 11/06/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) - The Government of Turkey has fined Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram 10 million lira ($1.18 million) each for not complying with a new social media...
Assyrian Priest Faces Turkish CourtNovember 5, 2020 — 11/05/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) –Witnesses were heard in the third hearing against Assyrian priest Father Sefer Bileçen, who is accused by the Turkish authorities membership in a terrorist organization...
Cross Ripped from Syrian ChurchNovember 2, 2020 — 11/02/2020 Syria (International Christian Concern) – Following Islamic prayers this past Friday, Islamists removed the cross of the Saint Sergius and Bacchus Greek Orthodox Church in the Syrian city of...
Anti-Armenian Sentiment Reaches Alarming LevelsOctober 30, 2020 — 10/30/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – Conflict in the Caucasus have ignited anti-Armenian sentiment in sectors within and influenced by Turkey. This sentiment has only grown in recent days. Editor-in-chief...
Islamic Prayers Scheduled at Turkey’s Chora ChurchOctober 28, 2020 — 10/28/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – Nearly two months after Turkey's President Erdogan issued an order converting the historic Chora Church from a museum into a mosque, Islamic prayers are...
4th Century Church Listed for SaleOctober 27, 2020 — 10/27/2020 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – The 4th century Mor Yuhanna Syriac Church in Turkey’s city of Mardin has been listed for sale with a price of just over 7...
Caucasus Conflict Continues Despite CeasefireOctober 13, 2020 — 10/13/2020 Nagorno Karabakh (International Christian Concern) – A ceasefire agreed between Armenia and Turkish-backed Azerbaijan on October 10th continues to be violated. The World Council of Churches issued a statement...
Report Documents Turkey’s Reliance Upon ISISOctober 10, 2020 — 10/10/2020 Syria (International Christian Concern) – A new report published by the Rojava Information Center details the identities of at least 40 former ISIS members who are currently serving as...
