Turkey Archives

Turkey’s Armenian church elects new patriarch

Dec 12, 2019

Turkey’s Armenian community on Wednesday voted in Bishop Sahak Masalyan as its new patriarch, in an election that critics say was overshadowed by Turkish government intervention.

By Associated Press

They come at night: Syrians flee to Iraq as cease-fire set to expire

Oct 22, 2019

In mid-October, Turkey agreed to pause its fighting for 120 hours, expiring Oct. 22, for Syrian Kurdish and Syriac Christian forces to withdraw from a zone Turkey wants to control. However, with fighting still was occurring in several areas, and the uncertainty of what would happen, Syrian families were considering their options for survival.

By Dale Gavlak

Murder of Syrian politician highlights risk for minorities

Oct 15, 2019

When Hevrin Khalaf, a young Syrian politician and advocate on behalf of women and religious and ethnic minorities in Kurdistan, was murdered by a Turkish-backed fringe group on Saturday amid Turkey’s new offensive in Syria, her death sparked outcry from around the world.

By Elise Harris

Syriac Catholic patriarch pleads for peace in northeastern Syria

Oct 14, 2019

The patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church pleaded for “immediate and lasting peace in northeastern Syria and the preservation of innocent lives, especially for Christians, who are the original and founding component of Syria.”

By Catholic News Service

Pope calls for peace in ‘beloved and martyred’ Syria after Turkish incursion

Oct 13, 2019

Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for the international community to work for peace in Syria, noting that Christian families are in the areas currently under attack by Turkish forces.

By Inés San Martín

Advocates to Trump: Don’t desert Christians, Yazidis, Kurds in Syria

Oct 11, 2019

Christians concerned with religious freedom violations resulting from the Turkish military offensive on northeastern Syria are urging U.S. President Donald Trump to “reconsider and reverse” his Oct. 6 decision to move American troops out of the way of a Turkish incursion.

By Dale Gavlak