Turkey
Turkey says Pope shows ‘crusader mentality’ by calling 1915 killings genocide
By RNS staff — June 25, 2016
(Reuters) A Turkish deputy prime minister said that it was 'unfortunate' that Pope Francis had labeled the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces a genocide, and that it reflected the papacy's 'Crusader mentality.'
Pope on visit to Armenia cites ‘genocide,’ likely to anger Turkey
By RNS staff — June 24, 2016
(Reuters) Pope Francis departed from his prepared text on Friday (June 24) to use the word "genocide" to describe the mass killings of Armenians in 1915.
Greece and Turkey spar over Ramadan prayers at Hagia Sophia
By Lauren Markoe — June 14, 2016
(RNS) The beloved Hagia Sophia is not officially a mosque or a church. Now some Christians are afraid that its secular status is changing.
With Africa trip, Turkey’s Erdogan aims to quash influence of Islamic cleric
By David Gibson — May 31, 2016
ANKARA (Reuters) The continent is not big enough for both Tayyip Erdogan and Hizmet leader Fethullah Gulen, a cleric whose network was once an instrument of Turkey's soft power in Africa.
Yes, there was an Armenian genocide
By Jeffrey Salkin — May 17, 2016
All Jews should affirm that the Armenian catastrophe was a genocide. The first of its kind, in fact.
Pope’s visit to Armenian genocide memorial may strain tensions with Turkey
By Rosie Scammell — May 13, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Francis’ trip carries huge significance, following the pontiff’s description of the killings as "the first genocide of the 20th century,” a claim Turkey rejects.
‘You are not alone,’ Pope Francis tells refugees, brings 12 to Rome
By Rosie Scammell — April 17, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff's dramatic gesture capped a lightning visit, with Orthodox Christian leaders, to a Greek island that had a politically-charged message for Europe.
Russian pressure forces historic Orthodox summit to meet in Crete
By Tom Heneghan — January 25, 2016
PARIS (RNS) Russian leaders pressured the church to change the venue after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet that strayed into its airspace.
To counter Islam’s critics, imam says Muslims need to relearn faith
By Umar Farooq — December 29, 2015
ISTANBUL (RNS) Imam Fadel Soliman teaches Muslims to deal with critics, but his "hidden goal" is to challenge his listeners' own understanding of the precepts of Islam.
Bike lanes * Saint Barbie * So long: October’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — November 2, 2015
Churches attack bike lanes for "burdening" their religious freedom as Saint Barbie leads a plastic revolution in Argentina. Savor every word of this last ever recap as I say “so long” to On Freedom.
Turkish faith movement secretly funded 200 trips for lawmakers and staff
By Paul Singer — October 30, 2015
WASHINGTON — A Turkish religious movement has secretly funded as many as 200 trips to Turkey for members of Congress and staff since 2008, violating House rules and possibly federal law, a USA TODAY investigation has found.
On eve of anniversary, Turkey’s ‘cultural genocide’ of Armenian history is ongoing
By Tania Karas — April 23, 2015
YUKARI BAKRACLI, Turkey (RNS) Over the past century, the Turkish government has destroyed many Armenian churches, homes, schools and cemeteries or allowed them to fall into ruins.
Pope sparks row with Turkey by calling Armenian massacre genocide
By Reuters — April 12, 2015
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) The foreign ministry called its ambassador to the Holy See back to Ankara, and summoned the Vatican's ambassador, saying Francis' remarks had caused a "problem of trust" in diplomatic relations.
Beef ban * Witch hunts * Too much Guinness : March’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — April 1, 2015
An Indian state bans the sale and possession of beef. Tanzanians murder “witches” accused of murdering “magical albinos.” And Ireland nearly outlaws straight marriage, on accident. Who needs April Fools’ Day when reality is this strange?
Restored Turkish synagogue is resplendent — but empty of worshippers
By Reuters — March 26, 2015
The restoration of the first temple to open in Turkey in two generations comes at a time of fear and tension for a dwindling number of Jews there.
