24
January
Turkish Parliamentary approves extradition with China in its hunt for Uyghur refugees
China continues to expand its global reach to punish those who dare to speak out about the regime’s abuses.
05
January
Treasure Hunters Damage Chapel in Turkey
Turkey now has a dubious reputation for limiting rights of religious and cultural minorities. Rhetoric used by political figures appears to validate social perceptions about Christians that lead to treasure hunting and other types of challenges.
23
November
Washington can Help Free Turkey's Highest-Profile Prisoner of Conscience
Among advocates for Turkey's minorities, Osman Kavala is a secular saint. As a philanthropist, he has been the benefactor of initiatives to document and restore heritage sites, support arts and culture and fund intercommunal reconciliation projects.
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II. 24/08/2020
24
August
Religious Official in Syria asks United Nations for help
In a rare move, Mor Aphrem II sent a letter to Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres, calling for the U.N. to intervene in the ongoing water crisis in Hasakah, Syria.
American convoy in Hasakah
23
August
US State Department delegation to pressure Turkey over water crisis in Syria’s Hasakah
A US State Department delegation to Syria’s northeastsays they will pressure the Turkish government to solve the water cutoff in Hasakah.
A child from the Uyghur community living in Turkey participates in a protest in Istanbul on November 6, 2018, against oppression by the Chinese government of Muslim Uyghurs in the far-western Xinjiang province. >Credit: AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis
21
August
China Buys Turkey’s Silence on Uyghur Oppression
A quick explanation of how China uses economic leverage to silence Turkey on the Uyghur issue, coauthored by my colleague and friend, Aykan Erdemir.
President Erdogan declared the building a mosque and said the first prayers would be held there within two weeks [Murad Sezer/Reuters]
14
July
Turkey to cover Hagia Sophia's Christian icons during prayers
Governing party's statement comes days after Ankara turned the iconic monument from a museum into a mosque.