Tag: Coup

Turkey nightclub-massacre accused says he targeted Christians

February 14, 2017 Turkey Ankara, Coup, Islamic State, Terrorism

The man charged with killing 39 people on New Year’s Eve at Istanbul’s exclusive Reina nightclub attack, Abdulkadir Masharipov, has testified before a Turkish court, saying: “My purpose was to kill Christians”. The Uzbek national was arraigned in court 11 Feb., nearly a month after he was captured by Istanbul police 16 . . . Read More

Turkey rejects initial appeal to release jailed US pastor

January 4, 2017 Turkey Andrew Brunson, Coup, Fethullah Gülen, Izmir

Andrew Brunson has been held since early October.The Brunson family A Turkish court denied an initial appeal last week for the release of Rev. Andrew Brunson, an American Protestant pastor kept under arrest for the past three months over alleged links to a terrorist organisation. In the wake of . . . Read More

‘No Christmas or carol singing’ orders in Santa Claus’ homeland Turkey

December 20, 2016 Turkey Christmas, Coup, Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Istanbul Erkek Lisesi, also known as Istanbul High School, Istanbul 2011© Guillaume Piolle / CC “No more Christmas celebration and/or lessons on Christmas including carol singing is permitted, effective immediately”. An email on 13 December sent to about 35 German-funded teachers at Istanbul Erkek Lisesi (also known as Istanbul High . . . Read More

UPDATE: Turkey jails US pastor on ‘terrorism’ allegations

December 9, 2016 Turkey Andrew Brunson, Coup, David Byle, Gaziantep, Izmir

UPDATE (9 Dec.): A Turkish judge sent Rev. Andrew Brunson to prison in Izmir today, 64 days after the US pastor and his wife, Norine, were detained on 7 Oct. under Interior Ministry deportation orders. Although his wife was released on 19 Oct. and given an extended permit to remain . . . Read More

US academic and refugee aid worker ‘banned for life’ from Turkey

October 21, 2016 Turkey Ankara, Coup, Ryan Keating

Ryan Keating was a doctoral student at Ankara University.World Watch Monitor Turkey deported an American Christian pursuing doctoral studies at Ankara University this week, revoking his residence visa 10 years after the scholar and his family first arrived in the country. Ryan D. Keating, a Yale University graduate, was refused entry . . . Read More

Faked ‘news’ targets Turkey’s Patriarch

September 7, 2016 Turkey Coup, Fethullah Gülen, Patriarch Bartholomew I, Turkey

Turkey’s national media published a spate of fabricated reports in late August, in backing the 15 July coup attempt against the Turkish government. The strongly pro-government Aksam newspaper first broke the alleged “news” in a front-page article on 30 Aug., headlined “Patriarchate-CIA Gulen Alliance.” The story quoted an article posted . . . Read More

Turkey: churches targeted during attempted coup

July 19, 2016 Turkey Armenians, Balikesir, Bursa, Catholics, Chaldeans, Coup, Diyarbakir, Greek Orthodox, Malatya, Surp Giragos, Trabzon

Santa Maria Catholic Church in Trabzon, Turkey, in a 2007 photo.World Watch Monitor Two churches in cities in eastern Turkey infamous as the sites of historic killings of Christians were vandalised during the attempted coup on 15 July, reports Middle East Concern. One of the attacks took place in . . . Read More

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