Job Discussion Forums

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Two Turkish Christians face a total of 9 years behind bars for spreading words considered ``anti Turkish`` in their efforts to convert Muslims to one of the Christian faiths.

The two individuals face 9 years in prison, because their acts are considered ``�llegal, immoral, and against the interests of Turkey.``

One of the Christian Turks studied English at one of the Language schools which many of the readers on this forum are familiar with, and the same individual was considering a career as an English teacher.

Ghost very much regrets what happened to this individual, and although he may have offended people, one feels that 9 years behind bars is a steep price to pay for a political opinion, no matter how unpalatable that opinion might seem in the eyes of many Turks.

ghost

ElizabethBennett · Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 14

Yes let's hope they get help. I wonder if Amnesty knows. The principles of tolerance, and every religion having validity, sometimes do not seem to be applied to the Christian religion as they are to others. Christianity, like Islam, is by definition a missionary religion so I suppose to be fair then, either all or no religions should be 'allowed' to preach their message. What authority does any state have over an individual's right to do this or not anyway? Nine years is definitely too harsh. Let's hope they get help and get out quicker.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:18 pm Post subject:

ElizabethBennett · Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 14

Oops. Thanks for setting me right Furious. I see the process has all been horribly held up, one of the issues seemingly being freedom of speech-related hmmmmm......but I am open to being proved wrong.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:32 pm Post subject:

Golightly · Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:51 am Post subject:

proved/proven; both are valid. A bit like Catholic/protestant, Sunni/Shia etc.
Amazing how our language reflects the illogical absurdities of belief.
Which gives rise to the (admittedly stupid)idea: Is English (or the teaching thereof) a faith?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

EFLing is definitely a faith. A pretty weird one too.

yaramaz · Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 7:19 am Post subject:

I suppose that means I am losing my religion as well as my ability to speak coherent English... Laughing

howmucharefags · Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 299 Location: Eskisehir

Please don't correct grammer here..most of us are drunk when we post

TeachEnglish · Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 239

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. That is if what the people have done is a crime. Maybe they actually have broken some laws. They are Turkish and should know their own laws. But we all know how laws work here, they don't. This place is a legal nightmare. It's all about who you know and who you blow. Twisted Evil

ElizabethBennett · Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 14

I would like to record that Furiousmilkshakeali (phew), once sobered up, felt a pang of conscience for having been so pedantic (I really hope that was the right tense otherwise I am done for), and sent me a PRIVATE APOLOGY. Thanks Furious.

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

What's the deal with this story, I haven't been able to find any information about it anywhere. Were they preaching in schools? This is illeagal over here because of the secular state.

tararu · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 494

As I have mentioned on another thread, l believe that missionaries are just a step above the undead.
I cannot accept/agree with/tolerate or damn well stand these arrogant leeches coming over here and spreading the good word. Turkey already has a main religon. Most people are either Sunni or Alevi. They don't bloody need a new shiny faith!! Christianity is no bloody better than Islam, and as far as l am concerned the Christian faith has a whole lot more to answer for than Islam. As a couple people have said, the culprits knew full well what would happen to them, so let them be martyrs for their faith. Send out the lions!!!

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

This site provided minimal info

http://www.christianresponse.org/articles/525/two-turkish-christians-are-arrested-and-charged-and-face-possible-prison-term

And this one is interesting for the archive of 'persecutions' of christians at the hands of the bebek yiyen 'Turks' ...

http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=329&sec=23&con=54

So ... leave your crosses and bibles at home, and it's probably best not to step out wearing your winter mitre ... until things blow over ...