Another church in Istanbul defaced by vandals

Unknown assailants have defaced Istanbul's Kadıköy Protestant Church, by writing “Allah 1” on its door. The latest attack comes amid reports of an increase in violation of churches in Turkey.

Saturday January 01 2022 03:13 pm

Duvar English

Unknown assailants have vandalized the Kadıköy Protestant Church in Istanbul, by writing “Allah 1” on its door.

An investigation has been launched into the incident, but no one has been yet caught, Mezopotamya news agency reported on Dec. 31.

Artı Gerçek journalist Murad Mıhçı also reacted against the vandalization, sharing a picture of the defaced church on Twitter.

Kadiköy'de Protestan Kilisesine yazılama yapılmış. ALLAH Birde kullarında cins çok... pic.twitter.com/EIg2zqry8C
— Murad Mıhçı-Մուրատ (@MuradMihci) December 31, 2021

Two other churches in Kadıköy were also reported to have been defaced.

Many of Istanbul's churches have previously come under attack.

In July 2021, three people danced to loud music on the wall of the Armenian Church of Surp Takavor in Kadıköy. An investigation was later launched into the three suspects on charges of “insulting religious values adopted by a fraction of society.”

In May 2020, an assailant ripped off a cross outside Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Armenian Church in the Kuzguncuk neighborhood of Üsküdar district. The identity of the suspect was revealed after a security footage emerged of him ripping down the cross. He was later detained as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

In May 2020, a man was detained for attempting to burn the entrance door of Dzınunt Surp Asdvadzadzni Armenian Orthodox Church in the Bakırköy district.