A criminal court in southeast Turkey has for the second time pressed charges against Pastor Ahmet Guvener of the Diyarbakir Evangelical Church.This time he is accused of “opening an illegal church”. Guvener will stand trial for alleged violation of Turkish penal code 261/1. State prosecutor Mehmet Isbitiren charged Guvener in February with “using a building registered as a home to open a Protestant church and conducting religious worship together with music for the people attending”. The pastor could be jailed for up to two years if convicted.
The Diyarbakir Evangelical Church has functioned openly in the city’s traditionally Christian neighbourhood of Lalebey since April 6 of last year, gathering from 50 to 60 worshippers each Sunday. “Of course, the real purpose of this court case is to shut down our church,” Guvener told Compass, stating that the case will set a precedent for all other “existing and newly opened” Protestant churches in Turkey.
His first hearing before the Diyarbakir Criminal Court is set for May 12. (Compass Direct)
