Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish
The Saint Maria Catholic Church in Trabzon was attacked yesterday (March 6) at 6.30 p.m.
According to the news reflected in the press, a person in his forties took a single shot with a gun at the window over the garage door of the church. After this hate attack, one person has been taken into custody.
Earlier this year, on February 9, a material emitting smoke was thrown at the garden of the church and five people, who were taken into custody in relation with this incident, were all released.
Attacks on Saint Maria Catholic Church
February 9, 2018 - A material emitting smoke was thrown at the garden of the church, five people, who were taken into custody in relation with this incident, were all released.
July 17, 2016 - After the 15-July coup attempt, a group protesting the coup attempt attacked the Saint Maria Catholic Church, chanting Allahu Akbar. Breaking the windows of the church by throwing paving stones, the group tried to break the door of the church with the hammers which they brought along.
January 1, 2011 - The church was threatened on the ground that the cross of the church was illuminated. In one of the bottles thrown at the church, there was a note which read, "Either you take down the cross on top of the church or we will." Though the attack was referred to the security forces, who took the video recordings from the surveillance cameras, no clues could be found. No one at the church was appealed to for their testimony and no complaint petition was received.
The murder of the Priest Andrea Santoro
The Priest of the Saint Maria Church Andrea Santoro was murdered in an armed attack on February 5, 2006 while he was praying.
Oğuzhan Akdin, who was arrested on charge of murdering Santoro with a gun and was at the age of 16 on this date, was sentenced to 18 years and 10 months in prison by the Heavy Penal Court of Trabzon and was discharged from prison upon the completion of his execution period. (EA/SD)
