Malatya murders remembered 5 years later

Christian martyrs Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel
and Tillman Geske
(Photo by Compass Direct)

Today, April 18, is the fifth anniversary of the murders of three Christians (Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske) at the Zirve Christian publishing house in Malatya, Eastern Turkey, in April 2007, reports Middle East Concern.

Memorial services are planned for the three grave sites, and also at a church in Istanbul. Nacati and Tilmann were married, with two and three children respectively, and Ugur was engaged. His finance has since married another believer.

Five men, aged 19 and 20 at the time, were arrested at the scene and were charged with the murder. Their trial opened in November 2007 and became complicated as a result of efforts to identify those behind the perpetrators.

A hearing was held on February 17, the 37th since the trial opened. The panel of judges announced that an indictment was being prepared against those suspected of instigating the murders and would be ready in time for the next hearing scheduled for April 9-13 to give time for defence testimony and cross-examination.
However, on April 9 the court heard that the indictment was not yet ready, and the hearing was postponed until June 18. The indictment is expected to name former local commanders and other officials who are already in custody.

Under Turkish law, those accused will be exonerated if they have not been formally convicted and sentenced within five years, which had caused concern that delays will lead to the perpetrators being released. However, this law does not apply in terrorism cases, and this case is officially designated as a terror case. Therefore, the perpetrators will not be released.

Turkish Christians request our continued prayers that:

• Family members and friends of the murdered men will continue to know the peace of Jesus as the trial process continues.
• All those who aided or perpetrated the murders would have a deep conviction about what they have done, and understand the depths of Jesus' forgiveness.
• All judges, other officials, lawyers and journalists involved will hear the gospel of Jesus, and be drawn to the Father's love, forgiveness and acceptance.

The May edition of The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter shares the testimony of a boy in Turkey who has suffered much for his faith in Jesus. To read his story, be sure to sign up for a free subscription today. 

Malatya murder trial continues on 4th anniversary of deaths

Christian martyrs Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel
and Tillman Geske (Photo by Compass Direct)

Monday marked the fourth anniversary of the murders of Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tillman Geske—employees of the Zirve Publishing House in Malatya, eastern Turkey, reported Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

The three members of the Malatya Kurtulus Church were tortured and killed by a group of five young Muslims in the office of the Christian publishing company on April 18, 2007. 

The trial of the five alleged murderers began on November 22, 2007, and to date at least 27 witnesses have appeared in court over the course of 30 hearings. The five men were caught trying to escape from the scene of the crime. However, the trial has been prolonged due to the prosecutors’ desire to prove the killings were commissioned by high-level clandestine powers.

Last month, 20 people were detained in connection with both the Malatya murders and the ongoing ‘Ergenekon’ case. Ergenekon is an alleged high-level conspiracy to destabilize the Turkish government through acts of terror, including the targeting of minority communities, as outlined in the organization’s “Cage Action Plan.”

Friends and family of the victims, who have long advocated a more in-depth examination of these murders, have expressed satisfaction with recent developments, and the hope that the Malatya trial will soon be officially merged with the Ergenekon case. However, the timing of the recent removal from the Ergenekon investigation of Zekeriya Öz, the chief prosecutor who ordered the recent arrests, has raised some anxieties.

The next Malatya hearing is scheduled for April 29.