The Turkish press wrote of growing concern
among Istanbul’s Christian communities, following an act of
intimidation outside the Armenian church of Surp Hovhannes. An unknown assailant fire seven shots in the air, causing panic among the faithful gathered inside the building.
No one was wounded during the assault. According to Armenian archbishop Aram Ateysan, the assailant shouted out to the Armenians gathered inside the church: “now there’s too many of you!”
The prelate said a young Armenian was beaten in front of another church in the nearby Samatya neighbourhood. Other Christian communities in Istanbul have experienced acts of intolerance in recent days.
In Atasehir, a group of 40 people attacked the New Hope Evangelical Church on 27 April, throwing stones and breaking the temple’s windows.
The following day, Radikal reports, a group of young people looted the Greek Orthodox church of Burgas Ada in Istanbul. Archbishop Atesyan said “these attacks aim to cause distress among the members of our community and other minority communities,” who have fallen victim to discrimination and violence in Turkey over the past few years.
Two Italian clerics, the priest Andrea Santoro and Bishop Luigi Padovese were killed in 2006 in Trabzon and in 2010 in Antioch and in 2007 three Protestant activists were killed in Malatya.