Changes

==Social conditions==

==Social conditions==

===Persecution of Christians===

===Persecution of Christians===

Christians are viciously persecuted in Turkey.<ref>https://www.hudson.org/research/preview/16832-turkey-s-christians-face-increasingly-dangerous-persecution</ref> It is common for Churches to be confiscated, shuttered, torn down or converted into Mosques. In 2020, Turkish dictator Erdogan, converted the Hagia Sophia back into a Mosque and resumed Muslim prayers. According to numerous sources, Christian refugees from the Middle East living in Turkey have been treated with contempt and isolated in remote locations.

Christians are viciously persecuted in Turkey.<ref>https://www.hudson.org/research/preview/16832-turkey-s-christians-face-increasingly-dangerous-persecution</ref> It is common for churches to be confiscated, shuttered, torn down or converted into mosques. In 2020, Turkish dictator Erdoğan, converted the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque and resumed Muslim prayers. According to numerous sources, Christian refugees from the Middle East living in Turkey have been treated with contempt and isolated in remote locations.

===Attacks on Christians and Churches===

===Attacks on Christians and churches===

In 2006, a Turkish Muslim killed a Catholic priest at the Saint Maria Catholic Church while he was praying.<ref>https://m.bianet.org/english/minorities/194935-attack-on-saint-maria-catholic-church-in-trabzon</ref>  

In 2006, a Muslim killed a Catholic priest at the Saint Maria Catholic Church while he was praying.<ref>https://m.bianet.org/english/minorities/194935-attack-on-saint-maria-catholic-church-in-trabzon</ref>  

In 2009, a group of young Turkish Muslims, broke into a Bible publishing house in Malatya. The 3 Christian employees working there were bound, sadistically tortured for hours on end and beheaded.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/story/turkish-officials-5-more-detained-after-attack-on-christian-publishing-house</ref> The accused later said that, ''"We didn't do this for ourselves, but for our religion. Let this be a lesson to enemies of our religion."''

On April 18, 2007, a group of young Turkish Muslims, broke into a Bible publishing house in Malatya. Two Turkish Christian and a German Christian employees working there were bound, sadistically tortured for hours on end and beheaded.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/story/turkish-officials-5-more-detained-after-attack-on-christian-publishing-house</ref><ref>[http://www.gofbw.com/print.asp?ID=7257 Group of young Muslims murders 3 Christians in Turkey] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103221900/http://www.gofbw.com/print.asp?ID=7257 |date=January 3, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/apr/19/world/fg-christians19 |title=3 men slain at Bible publishing firm in Turkey |last=King |first=Laura |date=April 19, 2007 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=May 20, 2009}}</ref><ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,478074,00.html Attack on Christians in Turkey - Three Killed at Bible Publishing Firm], [[Der Spiegel]], April 18, 2007</ref> The accused later said that, ''"We didn't do this for ourselves, but for our religion. Let this be a lesson to enemies of our religion."''

In 2012, an 85 year old Armenian woman living in Istanbul was stabbed to death in her apartment. Afterwards, the murderer carved a crucifix on her naked corpse. <ref>https://www.economist.com/charlemagne/2013/01/29/the-ghosts-of-1915</ref>

In 2012, an 85 year old Armenian woman living in Istanbul was stabbed to death in her apartment. Afterwards, the murderer carved a crucifix on her naked corpse.<ref>https://www.economist.com/charlemagne/2013/01/29/the-ghosts-of-1915</ref>

In May 2019, an 86 year old Greek man was found murdered in his home, with his hands and feet tied. He was reportedly tortured.<ref>https://www.persecution.org/2019/05/16/possible-hate-murder-turkey/</ref>  

In May 2019, an 86 year old Greek man was found murdered in his home, with his hands and feet tied. He was reportedly tortured.<ref>https://www.persecution.org/2019/05/16/possible-hate-murder-turkey/</ref>  

In late 2019, a 16 year old Turkish Muslim stabbed a Korean Christian evangelist to death. <ref>https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2019/november/lsquo-they-came-to-kill-him-rsquo-evangelist-dies-after-being-stabbed-in-the-heart-on-streets-of-turkey</ref>

In late 2019, a 16 year old Turkish Muslim stabbed a Korean Christian evangelist to death.<ref>https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2019/november/lsquo-they-came-to-kill-him-rsquo-evangelist-dies-after-being-stabbed-in-the-heart-on-streets-of-turkey</ref>

On May 8, 2020, a Muslim tried to torch a church that had previously been vandalized with graffiti. <ref>https://en.armradio.am/2020/05/09/armenian-church-in-istanbul-attacked/</ref>

On May 8, 2020, a Muslim tried to torch a church that had previously been vandalized with graffiti.<ref>https://en.armradio.am/2020/05/09/armenian-church-in-istanbul-attacked/</ref>

===Vandalism of Christian Cemeteries===

===Vandalism of Christian cemeteries===

In October 2006, a Chakmak Spiritual Christian cemetery in Turkey was vandalized. The grave was found robbed and filled with trash.<ref>http://molokane.org/places/Turkey/Kars/2006_Cemetery.html</ref>

In October 2006, a Chakmak Spiritual Christian cemetery in Turkey was vandalized. The grave was found robbed and filled with trash.<ref>http://molokane.org/places/Turkey/Kars/2006_Cemetery.html</ref>

On February 14, 2020, gravestones in the Ortakoy Christian cemetery in Ankara were destroyed. <ref>https://en.protothema.gr/attacks-on-christian-cemeteries-alarm-turkeys-christians/</ref> On the same day, vandals broke a cross of a deceased woman's grave. A few days earlier, a group of Turkish Muslims shouting "Allah Hu Akbar" tried to sabotage the burial service. <ref>https://haber.sat7turk.com/hate-attack-on-the-latin-catholic-cemetery-in-trabzon/</ref>

On February 14, 2020, gravestones in the Ortakoy Christian cemetery in Ankara were destroyed.<ref>https://en.protothema.gr/attacks-on-christian-cemeteries-alarm-turkeys-christians/</ref> On the same day, vandals broke a cross of a deceased woman's grave. A few days earlier, a group of Turkish Muslims shouting "Allahu Akbar" tried to sabotage the burial service.<ref>https://haber.sat7turk.com/hate-attack-on-the-latin-catholic-cemetery-in-trabzon/</ref>

In August 2020, graves in an Armenian cemetery were desecrated.<ref>https://www.turkishminute.com/2020/08/13/graves-in-armenian-cemetery-vandalized-amid-growing-hostility-against-minorities-in-turkey/</ref>  

In August 2020, graves in an Armenian cemetery were desecrated.<ref>https://www.turkishminute.com/2020/08/13/graves-in-armenian-cemetery-vandalized-amid-growing-hostility-against-minorities-in-turkey/</ref>  

===Racism===

===Racism===

It is common for Syrian Arabs to be attacked and beaten up by fascist gangs in Turkey.<ref>https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/race-and-racism-in-modern-turkey/</ref> On March 29, 2021, a Syrian refugee family had rocks thrown at their home. <ref>https://www.duvarenglish.com/syrian-refugee-family-target-of-racist-attack-in-southeast-turkey-news-56845</ref>  A Turkish [[neo-Nazi]] group beat up an Afghan refugee. <ref>https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkish-neo-nazi-group-beats-afghan-refugee-shares-disturbing-video-news-60017</ref>

It is common for Syrian Arabs to be attacked and beaten up by fascist gangs in Turkey.<ref>https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/race-and-racism-in-modern-turkey/</ref> On March 29, 2021, a Syrian refugee family had rocks thrown at their home.<ref>https://www.duvarenglish.com/syrian-refugee-family-target-of-racist-attack-in-southeast-turkey-news-56845</ref>  A Turkish [[neo-Nazi]] group beat up an Afghan refugee.<ref>https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkish-neo-nazi-group-beats-afghan-refugee-shares-disturbing-video-news-60017</ref>

==Government and political conditions==

==Government and political conditions==