Turkey

By BosNewsLife News Center with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BosNewsLife)-- Christians have expressed concern about the plight of American Christians Andrew Brunson and his wife Norine who were detained in Turkey earlier this month on charges that friends linked to their church work. Turkish officials arrested and detained the couple on October 7 in the coastal city of Izmir saying their activities constituted “national security risks”," explained advocacy group Voice of the Persecuted (VOP).

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent ISTANBUL/BERLIN (BosNewsLife)-- Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Germany to protest against the German Parliament's decision to declare the massacre of Armenians during World War I a "genocide". The vote heightens German-Turkish tensions amid an ongoing refugee crisis.

By BosNewsLife News Center with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos,

ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BosNewsLife)-- American evangelist David Byle, who faces deportation from Turkey for "endangering public order”, has thanked his supporters for their prayers after he was unexpectedly released.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BosNewsLife Columns)-- Attacks on an ancient Syriac church in Turkey constitute another blow to Aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke. The World Council of Arameans says fighting in late-January between the Turkish army and Kurdish militia groups in the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir has caused "many deaths" and extensive damage.

By BosNewsLife News Center ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BosNewsLife)-- At least 20 evangelical churches in Turkey have reportedly received death threats from the Turkish branch of terror group Islamic State. The messages, sent to church members via social media website Facebook, email and mobile phone texts, include "upsetting videos and pictures", Christian rights activists told BosNewsLife.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Special Correspondent reporting from Turkey ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BosNewsLife)-- The recent eight anniversary of the torture and slaying of three men at a Turkish Christian publishing house – for which no one has ever been convicted - has raised questions about the future for Christianity within Turkey, commentators say.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BosNewsLife Columns)-- Covering the Christian persecution “beat” as a writer can be depressing. On a near-daily basis I receive newsletters from Christian groups such as Voice of the Martyrs and Barnabas Fund, and I scan the Internet regularly to check the latest developments. The news invariably seems to be bad, and getting worse. So it's refreshing to gain a different perspective.

By BosNewsLife News Center with reporting by Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife VATICAN CITY, VATICAN (BosNewsLife)-- In historic remarks Pope Francis marked the 100th anniversary of the mass killings of mainly Christian Armenians by calling it "the first genocide of the 20th century," a move that was expected to provoke anger in Turkey.

By BosNewsLife News Center   ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BosNewsLife)-- An American evangelical pastor in Turkey faced uncertainty Thursday, October 9, after authorities reportedly cancelled his long-term residence permit and ordered his deportation.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BosNewsLife)-- A widow asked for prayers and rights activists expressed concern Saturday, May 8, after a Turkish court released suspects accused of torturing and murdering three Christian missionaries in 2007.