*ARCHIVED OCTOBER 2007 // CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT DATA
Turkey (click here to view a satellite map)
Turkey, SE Europe & SW Asia
Population: 69,660,559
Christians: <1%
Dominant Religion: Sunni Islam
Persecution Ranking: 36th
Political Leader: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Religious Freedom in Constitution: Yes
Turkey’s constitution declares it to be a secular republic and grants religious freedom. The government is pursuing membership of the EU, a process that is driving reform in many areas including human rights. The situation is improving, but problems remain. Many fellowships have difficulties renting property and becoming officially registered as a church. There are occasional violent attacks on church property and individual Christians. One positive development is that religious registration is being removed from Identity Cards and other official documents. There are both long-established traditional churches and an emerging network of evangelical, Protestant fellowships in Turkey.
Prayer Points
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Pray that the EU membership application will drive further improvements in human rights, benefiting all minorities including the Christians. |
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Pray that it will become easy for churches to obtain official registration as churches. |
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Pray that violence against Christians and church property would cease. |
Dear LORD God, we lift before You the land of Turkey. Be with Prime Minister Erdogan and all who seek to improve the rights and treatment of minorities in Turkey, including the Kurds and the Christians. May those who follow Jesus Christ know Your protection and Your peace. Make them shine with Your light and be Your presence across this land. Amen. |
