Turkish Christians mark 1st anniversary of Malatia murders

PanARMENIAN.Net - This week Turkish Christians mark the 1st anniversary of the murder of three Protestants in Malatia.



Religious freedom in Turkey is still suppressed, said Duzid Seyhan, an evangelic. "Some people hire guards, some shut doors during the divine service," he said. "A dialogue with all religious comminutes should start with the equal attitude to all religions. The authorities should encourage pluralism and equality of all citizens and also punish the assaulters."



The Alliance of Protestant Churches of Turkey named the year of 2008 a "black year" for the Protestant community. A report meant to attract attention to the community's problems found no reaction in the media. Alliance's chairman Zekai Tanyar said that concerns and expectations of Protestants are the same as in 2006, before the murders.



Three Protestants (two Turks and a German) were murdered in southeast of Malatia on April 18, 2007.



The trial is still underway.