Turkey Expels Foreign Christians In Crackdown
Turkey is expelling foreign Christians as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to increase support from conservative Islamic leaders, rights investigators told Worthy News.
Christian Persecution – Europe
UK Christian Fostering Agency Downgraded by Government for Unlawful Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples
An independent Christian adoption and fostering agency in England has been downgraded by a government regulator for “unlawful discrimination against same-sex couples” in that it only places children with opposite-sex Christian couples. The agency is seeking Judicial Review of last year’s decision and the case will be heard in Leeds High Court on Wednesday and Thursday.
Finnish MP under investigation for supporting biblical view of sexuality
A Finnish Member of Parliament is under investigation for expressing the biblical view of sexuality in a series of television interviews, police charging her with “hate speech” in a case that civil liberties groups are seeing as a harbinger of ill-fortune for free speech.
Iranian Christian man denied asylum in UK after judge claims he won’t face persecution in Iran
An Iranian Christian convert from Islam has been denied asylum in the UK after a judge concluded he would not face a ‘real act of persecution’ by staying in his home country.
3,000 Christian sites across Europe attacked, desecrated, or vandalized in 2019
A new report from the Gatestone Institute found that 3,000 Christian sites, with the largest concentration in France and Germany, were desecrated in Europe in 2019, which was on pace to become a record-breaking year for the incidents.
Christian doctor in UK cleared after falsely charged with sharing his faith in an invasive way
A Christian doctor in the UK in danger of losing his job and medical license for 3 months was cleared of any wrongdoing by the National Medical Council after it found the charges against him were based on a highly questionable report.
Korean evangelist killed in Turkey in attack believers see as “sign” of things to come
A Korean evangelist was murdered in Turkey this month, and local believers are seeing it as a harbinger of things to come.
London Churches Attacked with Arson, Satanic Symbolism
Three East London churches were attacked last week, in a string of arsons that left pentagrams, “666” symbols, and the word “hell” scrawled in the doors.
U.K. Home Office Takes a Second Look at Iranian Christian Man’s Application for Asylum After Tweets Expose Anti-Christian Bias
The U.K. Home Office has decided to take another look at an Iranian Christian man’s application for asylum, which it initially rejected based on his claim that Christianity was a “peaceful” religion.
‘You Are Finished!’ Threaten Vandals Against Church in Turkey
International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on Sunday, February 23, 2019, threatening graffiti messages were found on the main entrance door of the Armenian Church of the Holy Mother of God (Balat Surp Hreshdagabet) in Istanbul, Turkey. According to a statement issued by the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, ‘There were written racist and hate speeches in both English and Arabic [saying] you are finished!’
Turkey Arrests Another Pastor Just Days after Pastor Brunson is Released
After releasing pastor Andrew Brunson just days ago, Turkish authorities detained another U.S. missionary.
US Pastor’s Case To Be Taken to Turkey’s High Court
Turkish media are reporting that a lawyer for an American pastor at the center of a dispute between Turkey and the United States plans to petition Turkey’s highest court for his client’s release.
Turkey Keeps American Pastor Behind Bars — At Least for Three More Months
After nearly two years in a Turkish prison, hopes for the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson have been deferred. A Turkish court ordered 50-year-old pastor to remain bars until at least his next hearing on October 12.
Turkey Calls Evangelism An Act of ‘Terrorism,’ Charges American Pastor
Andrew Brunson, an American pastor who’s been locked up in a Turkish jail for more than 500 days, could spend the rest of his life in prison.
American Pastor Imprisoned in Turkey Faces New Charges
Andrew Brunson, the American pastor who has been imprisoned in Turkey for nearly a year on dubious terrorism charges, is now facing new charges: ‘gathering state secrets for espionage, attempting to overthrow the Turkish parliament and government, and to change the constitutional order.’
Turkey: Gov’t seizes six church buildings
The Turkish government has seized control of six church buildings in the country’s Diyarbakir region.
Turkey: Evangelist detained, to be deported
In April, Turkey detained an American evangelist and ordered him held for a month with a view to his deportation.
Attack on Church Building in Samsun, Turkey
Four Muslim men detained by police for attacking a church building in the Black Sea region of Turkey last week shouted jihadist slogans after they were released from custody.
Turkey: Court rules gov’t failed to protect Christians
The Malatya Administrative Court ruled last week that the Turkish government was negligent in its duty to protect three Christians who were tortured and killed in 2007 and ordered it to pay one million lira ($333,980) in compensation for their families.
Turkish textbooks encourage intolerance
Theoretically, Turkey allows non-Muslims to be exempted from compulsory religious education if their religion is on record with the state. But parents have complained that some schools have refused to allow their children to be exempted.