Despite being a pre-condition for membership of European Union, Turkey's record for protecting religious minorities is far from perfect. Many Christians live in fear.
This week has seen the trial of five men accused of killing three Christians earlier this year in Turkey. The five were among a group of ten Turks arrested after the brutal murders, which were reported as an apparent attack on part of the country’s Christian minority in April.
The Constitution of Turkey
Many people are suspicious of Turkey’s role in the world. Seen by the majority as a European country with links from the Balkan region into the eastern part of the continent, a large part of the country also stretches into Asia and the Middle East. Turkey’s location has given it a major influence in the region in both trade and political roots.
Its strong links with Arab countries in the Middle East and the vast majority of Turkey’s 71 million strong population is Muslim. In addition, there is also a sizeable Kurdish minority with only about 1% recognised as Christian.
The Murders
Three people – a German and two Turkish citizens who had converted to Christianity – were employees at a publishing house which prints Bibles. All were found with their hands and legs bound and their throats slit.
The killings are believed to be the latest in a concerted attack on Christianity. Last year a Catholic priest was shot dead by a teenager and earlier this year, Armenian Christian journalist was also killed by a gunman.
‘Savagery’ Attack
Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan described this attack as “savagery” and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. He was supported by his Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, who also spoke out against the impact of the murders.
Most of the attacks in this Eastern part of Turkey are carried out by young, nationalist-minded, men who are often in their teens or early twenties.
The Suppression of Christians
Christians in Turkey have long complained against the national uprising against them. There have been an increasing number of reported attacks against the Christian minority, with complaints of harassment and pressure by the Islamic majority.
All suspects in this latest trial are believed to be Muslims and while they appeared to most people to be quiet and non-assuming, national newspapers reported they confessed to police shortly after the killings that they acted to protect both Turkey and Islam.
The local Protestant community in this town has now fallen to around two dozen people as the persecution against them continues.
Turkey and the European Union
Turkey applied for EU membership in 1999 and its case is currently ongoing, partly dependent on the government protecting the human rights of the country’s ethnic and religious minorities.
For some reason, though, this is currently happening and until it does Turkey will be banded with other broadly Islamic nations like Egypt who cannot – or will not – control its increasingly intolerant underbelly.
Already accused by Germany, Turkey’s record of prejudice against non-Muslim religions is likely to remain in the political spotlight.
