Faith
Turkey Faces Scrutiny Over Christian Expulsions
Faith Facts
- Over 200 foreign Christian workers have been expelled from Turkey since 2020, leaving Protestant congregations without spiritual leadership.
- The European Court of Human Rights is considering 20 cases where foreign Christians have been barred from Turkey, often without clear reasons or due process.
- Turkey has enacted policies preventing Christian associations from owning property, leading to the confiscation of over 1,000 church properties since 2002.
Foreign Christians in Turkey, many of whom are pastors and missionaries, have been labeled as security risks and expelled under undisclosed allegations, deeply affecting the faith community.
Without the ability to address accusations in court, these Christians have had no real chance to defend their right to worship and serve.
“Peaceful worship and participation in church life are not threats to national security. Yet foreign Christians in Turkey — pastors, teachers, ministry workers, and missionaries — have been labelled security risks and expelled based on undisclosed files.”
As a Muslim-majority country, Turkey has a complex record regarding its Christian minority, ranging from blocking planned attacks to imposing ongoing administrative and legal challenges.
There have been multiple attacks on churches, and negative portrayals of Christianity remain widespread in both educational material and public discourse.
“By examining these cases together, the Court is acknowledging that they may reveal a pattern of discrimination against Christians in Turkey. We look to the Court to uphold the fundamental principle that governments cannot strip people of their rights simply for living out their faith.”
Believers everywhere must pray for religious liberty and stand with those facing persecution, upholding the biblical call to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Faith Facts
- Syriac Aramaic is a direct linguistic link to the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and the early Church.
- The Syriac people are indigenous descendants of biblical-era inhabitants who have maintained their faith for millennia.
- Removing Christian languages from public signs in regions like Hassakeh threatens the visibility of the Cross in the Middle East.
Syrian activists are sounding the alarm as the indigenous Syriac Christian community faces a systematic erasure of their cultural and linguistic heritage.
As a new constitution is drafted following years of civil war, these believers are fighting to ensure their ancient identity is not silenced by rising political powers.
The protection of Syriac Aramaic, a variant of the language spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ, is a vital necessity for the survival of this biblical community.
Activists argue that recognizing this language is a fundamental step in preserving a civilization that predates many modern inhabitants of the region.
Human rights advocate Sardar Sharif emphasized that constitutional recognition is essential for ensuring cultural continuity for future generations of believers.
Faith Facts
- Christians and other religious minorities now comprise only 3% of Iraq’s population.
- Open Doors currently ranks Iraq as the 19th most difficult nation globally for Christians.
- Approximately 350,000 Yazidis remain displaced, and 96 mass graves have been discovered after ISIS atrocities.
A recent parliamentary report warns that the survival of the Body of Christ in Iraq is under severe threat despite the fall of ISIS.
While our brothers and sisters in faith find some refuge in the Kurdistan region, economic hardship and insecurity continue to drive families away from their ancestral lands.
The Christian population has plummeted to a fraction of its former size, leaving the faith at a critical crossroads in the Middle East.
We must stand in prayer and advocacy for those who remain steadfast in the cradle of Christianity.
Jim Shannon MP, who chaired the delegation, noted that while some progress exists, major challenges remain for those seeking to live in safety and freedom.
Faith leaders describe the international attention as a sign of hope for their resilient but exhausted communities.
“Iraq is one of the most difficult countries in the world for Christians and other religious minorities.”
The report urges the international community to strengthen accountability for crimes against humanity and support local infrastructure.
Without stable employment and security, the next generation of believers may be forced to seek a future far from their biblical heritage.
Faith Facts
- The case of Maria Shahbaz has prompted grave concern from a British parliamentary group.
- Her father testified that she was a minor coerced into conversion and forced marriage.
- Lord Alton and the APPG for Pakistani Minorities are urging stronger scrutiny and cooperation to protect vulnerable children.
A British parliamentary group has raised grave concerns over the abduction and forced marriage of Maria Shahbaz, a young Christian girl in Pakistan.
Despite her father’s testimony that she was a minor coerced into conversion, the local courts have upheld the union as lawful.
This case highlights a tragic and ongoing pattern where Christian and Hindu girls are targeted by older men for exploitation.
Believers in Pakistan face immense legal barriers as the judicial system frequently sides with abductors over minority families.
Lord Alton, Co-Chair of the APPG, emphasized the necessity of protecting the innocent regardless of the legal system involved.
“The protection of children and the safeguarding of religious minorities are fundamental principles recognised across all legal systems.”
We must stand in prayer and advocacy for our persecuted brothers and sisters who are treated as second-class citizens.
May the Lord bring justice to those who suffer for their faith and protection to the children facing such darkness.
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