Turkey: Zoning Laws a Pretext for Harassment

Only a handful of Turkey’s evangelical churches meet in state-recognized church buildings.

Authorities in nine Turkish provinces are questioning the legality of places of worship used by 40 Protestant church groups.

Under orders from the Turkish Interior Ministry, authorities notified 23 congregations in Istanbul, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Bursa, and Mersin that their rented or purchased places of worship violate municipal building laws.The church groups face legal action if they continue to meet in the buildings. Churches in Izmir, Istanbul, Mersin, and Gaziantep are already facing charges.

Only a handful of Turkey’s evangelical churches meet in state-recognized church buildings. The recent action against them is part of a directive issued in August. “Some highly placed officials in Ankara are desperately trying to avoid recognizing the local Protestant church,” one leader said. “The construction and zoning laws are ‘clutching at straws,’ so as to not appear to be in violation of religious rights.”

Turkey is seeking membership in the European Union, which has demanded human rights improvements.

The head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate admitted in late November that 81 percent of the mosques under construction in the country were unlicensed, and 55 percent had no architectural plan.

Ten of Istanbul’s Protestant groups have filed legal protests against the notice. Turkey’s population of 66 million is largely Muslim.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

For more articles, see Yahoo’s full coverage on Turkey.

Previous Christianity Today coverage of persecution in Turkey includes:

Christian Held in Turkey for ‘Attempting Organized Propaganda’ ReleasedAssyrian’s family says videotaping was for nostalgic purposes with no ideological content. (July 12, 2001)

Turkish Christians Accused of Illegal MeetingsCountercharges have been filed against an abusive police chief. (November 30, 2000)

Istanbul Police Arrest Turkish Protestant GroupAustralian Christian roughed up by Avcilar police chief. (May 30, 2000)

Turkey Releases Jailed Christians After 30 DaysWitnesses admit gendarmarie pressured them to sign complaints. (April 10, 2000)

Two Turkish Christians JailedJudge refuses bail during ‘religious slander’ investigation (March 13, 2000)

70 Christians Arrested While at ChurchPolice detain service attendees claiming a “complaint” had been filed against the church. (Nov. 15, 1999)

Also in this issue

The Church of O: With a congregation of 22 million viewers, Oprah Winfrey has become one of the most influential spiritual leaders in America.

Cover Story

The Church of O

Jenkins Gets Left Behind

"Inside CT: Using a Knife, Fork, and Spoon"

Letters

Quotation Marks

Holy Health

"Heather, Dayna, and Clark?"

Let's Roll ©®™

For Better or Worse

Bring on the Pentagrams

King Herod Was Troubled

New Zealand: New Zealand Christians Decry Unmarried Couples Law

Editorial

Why the TNIV Draws Ire

Enough Bullying

Resurrection

'Jesus Only' Isn't Enough

The Long View: The Virtue of Unoriginality

A Beautiful Reminder

One Pilgrims' Regress

Why Do They Hate Us?

Faith-based Give-in

Wire Story

"Presbyterians: Presbyterians Reaffirm Fidelity, Chastity Rule"

Review

Grace Meets the Real World

Review

What Do Women-Ghosts Want?

Oprah's Gurus

Easter in an Age of Terror

Farther In and Deeper Down

The Danger Ahead

News

Go Figure

Public Religion: Sidestepping Pluralism

Gambling: Fighting Chance

Broadcast Bloodletting

Bible Translation: TNIV Critics Blast Scripture 'Distortions'

India: Unwanted Girls Aborted

Holy Land Tourism Plunges

Kenya: U.S. Blacks Preach Abstinence Gospel

View issue

Our Latest

News

Black Clergy and Christians Grapple with Charlie Kirk’s Legacy

Many say the activist’s inflammatory statements on race should inform how we remember his life.

News

A Sudden Death: Voddie Baucham, Who Warned the Church of Fault Lines

Known for confronting critical theory, moral relativism, and secular ideologies, Baucham died a month into leading a new seminary in Florida.

Why Many Black Christians Reject the Evangelical and Mainline Labels

The history of a prominent church pastored by MLK in Alabama shows the reason African Americans often don’t embrace either term.

News

Pastor Abducted in Nigeria Amid Escalating Kidnapping Crisis

Armed gang continues to hold him after family paid the ransom.

Review

The Liturgy of American Charisma

Historian Molly Worthen studies dynamic leaders, eager followers, and their shared efforts to “consecrate a new reality.”

Inside the Ministry

The Next Gen Initiative

Casting a captivating vision of following Jesus for the next generation.

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Bruce Deel: Mercy With A Spine

Creating real pathways to stability so families can flourish through housing, work, and dignity.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube