Open Doors

MEMORIAL SERVICE ARRANGED TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF TURKISH MURDERS

“From him [Christ] the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work”

- Ephesians 4:16 [NIV]

Turkey

On the eve of the one-year mark of the slaughter of three Christians in Malatya, Turkey, The families of the three martyred Christians are still trying to come to terms with what has taken place.

Developments in the trial, now in its fifth hearing, are being followed around the world as the court seeks to reveal what actually happened to Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel, German Tilmann Geske and what the motives of the self confessed attackers were.

The impartiality of the judges in the case is now in doubt, and the young men on trial have now shifted the blame to one man. For the first time, Turkish widow Semse Aydin did not attend proceedings stating that her absence was a “quiet protest” against the judiciary’s refusal to grant plaintiff requests to replace the court bench with impartial judges.

At the hearing last week four of the accused said they were bystanders, while Emre Gunaydin, the final member of the group and alleged ringleader, personally tortured and then slit the throats of the three Christians. In their statements before a packed courtroom, the three said Gunaydin had deceived them, telling them his plan was just to infiltrate and intimidate these “Christian missionaries” whom he claimed were trying to divide Turkey and destroy Islam.

The next trial date is set for 12th May, although an appeal against the court’s refusal to remove the current panel of judges could delay the hearing.

A nationwide memorial service commemorating the three Malatya martyrs on the first anniversary of their deaths will be held on Sunday afternoon (20th April) at Istanbul’s St. Esprit Cathedral.

Source: Compass Direct

Please pray…

• For the memorial service this Sunday [20th April] and that this would be part of the healing process for the three families.
• That an impartial legal panel would be appointed to hear the case so that justice would clearly be done in this case.
• For the families of the three victims to be strengthened throughout the time of the trial and that God would provide for their needs especially those of the children involved