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| | ==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. |
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| − | ===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> |
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| − | 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."'' |
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| − | 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> |
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| | 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> |
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| − | 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> |
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| − | 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> |
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| − | ===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> |
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| − | 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> |
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| | 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> |
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| | ===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> |
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| | ==Government and political conditions== | | ==Government and political conditions== |