Turkiye (MNN) — A new report by International Christian Concern shows anti-Christian hate crimes doubling in Turkey since 2021. These include property damage, harassment, and violence, the group says.
While Christians make up less than one percent of the country’s 85 million people, they experience the highest number of religious hate crimes. The actual number remains low – just 52 of these occurrences have been reported since 2020. Greg Kelley with Unknown Nations says while the numerical increase is not large, the reason for the trajectory is worth noting.
“Any time the Gospel is making inroads, it becomes a threat,” he says.
Especially in Muslim majority countries, the government response will be swift.
“The way they react to it, primarily, is through a lot of foreign workers being targeted and kicked out of the country,” Kelley says.
Still, Kelley is encouraged. He says the Gospel is making progress among a sizable group: the country’s nearly 300,000 refugees. Turkiye hosts more refugees than any other nation, especially from surrounding countries such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Syria.
“We’re seeing people from these majority Muslim countries responding to the Gospel,” Kelley says, “and the Turkish government isn’t nearly as concerned about that activity as they are with their own people.”
Courtesy of Halide Nur Karadeniz Kutan via pexels
Ministries like Unknown Nations work within Turkey to bring the Gospel to Turks and refugees alike. Their focus is currently on Gospel-focused training that equips refugee believers to return to their own countries as missionaries, Kelley says.
While barriers exist to reach the Turkish people, he says there is opportunity to impact them as well. The need for Christ among this group is enormous.
“The Turks are one of the largest unreached people groups in the world,” Kelley says. “You’re talking about 62 million people that are one quarter of one percent Christian. It has to be a priority for the body of Christ.”
In the face of foreign workers being targeted and scrutinized, Kelley believes the key is to raise up and equip the indigenous community. The essential fuel is prayer.
“Jesus said to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send forth laborers, and Turkey has got to be on the radar of the body of Christ from a perspective of prayer,” he says.
Please pray for Unknown Nations and similar ministries working to bring the Gospel to this difficult place. Pray that the indigenous community and refugees would respond to the Gospel and be equipped to share it. Pray also that believers in Turkiye would be strengthened and encouraged in the midst of persecution.
Featured photo courtesy of Meg Jerrard/Unsplash
