Turkey Has Seen a Rise in Anti-Christian Hate Crimes

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Turkey has seen a surge in anti-Christian hate crimes since 2020, International Christian Concern (ICC) warns in a new report. Muslim-majority Turkey ranks 50 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

According to an analysis by ICC, 52 hate crimes against Christians have now been reported in Turkey since 2020. Notably, there were ten recorded hate crimes against Christians in 2021, and that figure more than doubled to 22 in 2023.

“The crimes include property damage, harassment, and violence,” ICC said in its report. Moreover, ICC noted: “The true number of hate crimes is likely higher than what has been reported due to victims’ fear of ostracization.”

In a statement about the situation facing Christians in Turkey, the Open Doors Christian advocacy organization explains in a website statement: “Although conversion from Islam to Christianity is not legally forbidden, anyone who is not a Muslim, or who converts to a different faith, is seen as a disloyal Turk. Christians are viewed as a negative Western influence, and those who choose to follow Jesus—whether from Islam or secularism—can face pressure from their families and communities to recant their faith.”

“Even Christians from minority ethnic backgrounds, such as Greeks and Armenians, are feeling the pinch in the form of various legal and bureaucratic challenges. And given that religious affiliation is registered on the electronic chip inside ID cards, it’s easy for employers, particularly those with connections to the state, to discriminate against believers,” Open Doors reports.

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