Tag: Hate Crimes

INTERNATIONAL: Rise in Anti-Christian Hate Crimes in Turkey Raises Concerns

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Reports show a significant rise in hate crimes targeting Christians in Turkey. Data from the Freedom of Belief Initiative (FOBI) highlights that such incidents have more than doubled over the past two years. In 2021, ten incidents were recorded, while in 2023, the number rose to 22.

Christians remain the primary victims of religious hate crimes in Turkey, with a total of 52 cases documented since 2020. These crimes range from harassment and property damage to acts of violence. The true scale of the issue may be higher, as many victims reportedly do not come forward due to fear of social exclusion.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has also noted several hate crime incidents against Christians in Turkey. These include not only physical violence but also broader patterns of intimidation. In addition, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) reported in 2023 that Turkish authorities have increasingly targeted Christian pastors, missionaries, and their families with deportation orders and permanent re-entry bans.

Turkey’s treatment of its Christian minority is part of a broader historical and modern trend. Christians, who made up about 25% of the region’s population before 1914, now represent less than 0.5%. This dramatic decline follows decades of persecution, including the Armenian genocide from 1915 to 1916. During this period, approximately 1 million Armenian Christians were killed through mass executions, starvation, and other atrocities orchestrated by Ottoman authorities.

January 2024, Two gunmen burst into Church of St. Mary Draperis in Istanbul. ISIS claimed responsibility.

Turkey is ranked 50th on Open Doors’ World Watch List, which assesses global persecution of Christians. Factors like Islamic oppression and authoritarian governance contribute to the challenges faced by Christians in the country today.

The rise in anti-Christian hate crimes in Turkey occurs amidst a broader increase in such incidents globally. For example, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) recently reported a 226% jump in hate crimes against Christians in Europe within a single year.

While the challenges faced by Christians in Turkey are not new, the growing frequency of targeted crimes underscores the ongoing risks for this minority group in a nation with a long history of religious conflict.