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In response to Switzerland's recent referendum to prohibit the construction of new minarets, Turkish muslims in eastern Turkey have threatened to kill a Christian priest unless he tears down his church's bell tower.

Three Muslims on Dec. 4 entered the Meryem Ana Church, a Syriac Orthodox church in Diyarbakir, and confronted the Rev. Yusuf Akbulut. They told him that unless the bell tower was destroyed in one week, they would kill him.

“If Switzerland is demolishing our minarets, we will demolish your bell towers too,” one of the men told Akbulut.

This sort of persecution is apparently quite common:

At press time the tower was standing and the priest was safe, said Jerry Mattix, youth pastor at the Diyarbakir Evangelical Church, which is located across a street from Meryem Ana Church.

Mattix said that threats against Christians in Diyarbakir are nothing out of the ordinary. Mattix commonly receives threats, both in the mail and posted on the church’s Internet site, he said.

“We’re kind of used to that,” Mattix said. He added that he has received no threats over the minaret situation but added, “I wouldn’t be surprised if we do.”

Hat tip to James Kushiner.

View all comments (4) | Leave a comment

dum&dummer;| 12.17.09 @ 6:27PM

being a true christian will always bring threats. ever hear the rev. jackson or sharpton threatened? just asking.

Richard Baker| 12.17.09 @ 8:01PM

What a flash! Moslems threatening because someone disagrees them. Who'd a thunk it?

Margie| 12.17.09 @ 8:53PM

I hope that Priest is "packing" when they come for him with their machetes and knives. Or have someone there who is. These terrorists always do what they said they're gonna do.

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More Blog Posts by Joseph Lawler

http://spectator.org/blog/2009/12/17/no-minarets-in-switzerland-mea
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