Newsfeed
Historic churches of ghost village to be restored
Publication Date: 6/11/2020
Source: Hurriyet Daily News
The historical churches in Kayaköy, known as “ghost villages” since it was abandoned 97 years ago in the western province of Muğla’s Fethiye district, will undergo restoration. The Kayaköy archaeological site, which is among the sensitive areas to be protected, hosts many local and foreign tourists every year.
Istanbul, first Islamic prayer in Chora: Christian frescoes and mosaics covered
The first Muslim rite is scheduled for Friday 30 October in the former Christian basilica, later turned into a museum. A story similar to the even more famous Hagia Sophia. A white veil drawn over original symbols of the building. But there is no shortage of criticism: risk of destroying “its nature and the artistic value".
Christians in Kirkuk feel marginalized
Author: Karwan Salehi
Publication Date: 2/11/2020
Source: Kirkuk Now
Some Christians in Kirkuk are happy that they can freely practice their religion and hold ceremonies, but a significant number among them think that the community is not fairly represented in local governance.
Christians form one of the main components of Kirkuk province, but many complain of being marginalized and say that they are often not even mentioned. Unlike Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens, they do not have a sufficient role in the local administration of the province.
Christian leaders call on Trump to impose sanctions on Turkey
Publication Date: 19/10/2020
Source: Ahval News
Christian human rights leaders called on U.S. President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Turkey over its involvement in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict and its animosity towards Christians, the Catholic News Agency reported.
The call came during a panel discussion late Friday entitled “Turkey is Committing Another Christian Genocide. Why is the Trump Administration Silent?”
The panel was attended by Defense of Christians President Toufic Baaklini, the Armenian National Committee of America director Aram Hamparian, director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council Endy Zemenides and Michael Rubin, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, the news agency said.
Young Iraqi Muslims revive Syriac Catholic Mar Toma Church to encourage return of Christians to Mosul
Publication Date: 27/10/2020
Source: Syriac Press
A team of young Muslims have cleaned and revitalized the Syriac Catholic Mar Toma Church to encourage the return of displaced Christians of Mosul to their homes and neighborhoods. According to Ishtartv news and A24 news agency, the “Mosul Sawaed” team of volunteers cleaned litter and debris from the church left after the destruction by terrorist organization ISIS, and the damaged done in the battle to free Mosul from ISIS.
World Evangelical Alliance Calls on Turkey To Review Decision to Expel 60 Protestants
Author: Derek Kim
Publication Date: 12/10/2020
Source: Christanity Daily
Wissam al-Saliby of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) demanded that Turkey "review its decisions to effectively expel and ban 60 Protestant church members" at the 45th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (Geneva, Switzerland).
The WEA is a global organization of evangelical Christian churches that serves over 600 million evangelicals. The alliance holds Special Consultative Status in the Economic and Social Council of the UN and is uniquely positioned to advocate for evangelical beliefs and help the poor and needy on an international scale.
Archbishop of Mosul: “I am more afraid for Europe than I am for Iraq”
Author: Marco Gombacci
Publication Date: 21/10/2020
Source: The European Post
Interview to Najeeb Michaeel Moussa, finalists of the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought proposed by Identity and Democracy group at the European Parliament. He is a Chaldean Catholic priest, archivist and scholar. In 2018 he was made Archbishop of Mosul, Iraq. Michaeel is well known for his efforts to aid the evacuation of Christians, Syrians and Chaldeans when Daesh captured Mosul in 2014. He was of great assistance to the displaced people of Mosul and the Nineveh Plain during the Daesh persecutions. The archbishop is also famous for saving a trove of ancient manuscripts, including documents belonging to the Eastern Church, which form part of the spiritual and cultural heritage of humanity.
Muslims, Christians unite against Macron's Islamophobic hate speech
Publication Date: 26/10/2020
Source: Daily Sabah
French President Emmanuel Macron's Islamophobic remarks continue to witness an outrage all around the world as not only the Muslims but also the Christian communities raise voice against the hate speech.
Arab Christians on Sunday joined those condemning recent statements by French authorities against Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
Macron on Wednesday said he won’t prevent the publishing of insulting cartoons of Prophet Muhammad under the pretext of freedom of expression, a statement that sparked outrage in the Arab and Muslim world. France recently launched an extensive witch hunt against the Muslim community following Macron calling Islam a problematic religion that needs to be contained. Many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and mosques have been shut down in the last two weeks, while assaults against Muslims have peaked.
No congregations or priests in many of Iraq’s churches
Author: Ammar Aziz
Publication Date: 15/10/2020
Source: Kirkuk Now
Most of the Churches and other Christian places of worship in Iraq don’t have priests any more, and are not frequented by many worshippers as they used to be.
In all of Duhok province, which has a sizable Christian population, there are only eight priests for 39 churches.
Christians in Turkey nervous as country moves in Islamic and nationalistic direction
Publication Date: 22/10/2020
Source: Open Doors
The repurposing of two historic churches in Turkey from museums to mosques over the summer has reinforced concerns amongst Christians over the Islamic and nationalistic direction the country is moving towards.
In July, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared that the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul – a church built in the sixth century and converted to a mosque in the 15th century before being turned into a museum in 1935 – would again be turned into a mosque. Two weeks later, the building opened for Muslim prayers.
A month later, the former Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora was also turned from a museum into a mosque.
