Worthy Christian News > Christian Persecution > Christian Persecution - Europe > Turkey > Turkey: Gov’t seizes six church buildings

Turkey: Gov’t seizes six church buildings

Thursday, April 21, 2016 | Tag Cloud | Learn about our FREE SYNDICATION Service | Stay informed with the Worthy Brief! | Printer Friendly

By Joseph DeCaro

(Worthy News) – The Turkish government has seized control of six church buildings in the country’s Diyarbakir region.

According to Barnabas Aid, the structures include a 1,700-year-old building that predates Islam and the 400-year-old Surp Giragos — the largest Armenian church in the Middle East.

The confiscations are part of a wider pattern of property seizures that might to be linked to the government’s war on Kurdish separatists. But most Christians are Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans and Turks.

Stay informed, prayerful, and encouraged — receive the Worthy Brief by email.

Diyarbakir once had a large Christian community, but it was nearly annihilated by Turkey a century ago. The Christians who remain include descendants of those who survived their government’s genocide.

The government claimed its church confiscations were not unfair since Turkey had also taken control of all local mosques such as Kursunlu Mosque, which was originally an Armenian church.

people are currently praying.

Worthy News reports from a biblical worldview with a commitment to accuracy, transparency, and editorial independence. Learn more about About Worthy News, our Editorial Standards, AI Use Policy, Ownership of Worthy News, News Tips and Corrections, and Worthy News Staff.

💡 Did you know? One of the best ways you can support Worthy News is by simply leaving a comment and sharing this article.

📢 Social media algorithms push content further when there’s more engagement — so every 👍 like, 💬 comment, and 🔄 share helps more people discover the truth. 🙌

Discuss this article in our forums

Latest Worthy News

Trump Secretly Switched Planes Amid Iranian Assassination Threat

Swiss Government Rejects Push To Enshrine Strict Neutrality In Constitution

Indonesian, Pakistanis Among Six Killed In Houthi Ship Attack

Russian Strikes Kill 12 In Ukraine As Kyiv Reports North Korean Missiles

Former Jehovah’s Witness Turned Christian Publisher Wim de Goeij Dies At 64

Hungary Elects András Baka President As He Warns Against Revenge

Massachusetts Governor Signs Law Removing Specific Limits on Abortions After 24 Weeks

U.S. Golden Dome Missile Shield Passes Major Tests, but Funding Battle Threatens 2028 Deployment

Taliban Bars 2.4 Million Afghan Girls From School, Erasing Decades of Progress

Fair Use Notice:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.