On December 29, the police detained 22-year-old Murat Tabuk after thwarting his plot to murder a Turkish Orthodox priest, Father Ramazan Arkan (30), in the coastal resort of Antalya. According to a January 2 report from Compass Direct, the suspect told police that his plot was influenced by a Turkish television series that depicts Christians as terrorists and criminals who forcibly make converts. The attack came two weeks after an Italian priest was stabbed in western Turkey by a youth who also claimed his actions were inspired by the same television series.

Tabuk had never met Father Arkan but phoned him twice in the days before the attack, asking him about Christianity. Arkan had invited Tabuk to meet with him at the St. Paul Centre on December 24. When Tabuk arrived, he refused to be frisked by security guards and left the premises.

Thank the Lord for keeping Father Arkan safe from harm. Pray for continued protection for him and other Turkish believers as they serve Christ amidst opposition. Ask God to enable Turkish Christians to entrust themselves to Him so that they can do his will without hesitation (2 Timothy 1:7-12). Pray that Murat Tabuk will come to repentance and faith in Christ.

For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Turkey, click here.