Two gunmen stormed Roman Catholic Santa Maria church in Istanbul during Sunday mass. It is the first time the Islamic terrorist group targets a place of worship in Turkey.

The president got over 52% of the vote and will lead the county five more years. Christians and other minorities still face restrictions in their freedoms.

The response to the earthquakes and the restriction of human rights such as religious freedom may play against the powerful president.

After 36 years of pastoring churches in Turkey, Carlos Madrigal was labelled a threat to national order and is no longer allowed to enter the country. He and his wife Rosa share lessons to be learned about Christian work in non-Western countries.

The aim of both countries is to strengthen their influence in the Middle East region, especially towards countries such as Iran.

The new Islamic worship centre in the centric Taksim Square “now occupies a prominent place among the symbols of Istanbul”, says Turkish President Erdogan.

According to a fugitive from Turkish justice detained in Argentina, members of President Erdogan's party contacted him to kill the pastor.

Germany, France, Portugal, Finland and Luxembourg agreed to receive unaccompanied minors stuck in Greek refugee camps, in the midst of the Turkey-Greece border refugee crisis.

“I had periods where I was suicidal, but realized God is worthy of all my pain and suffering”, Pastor Andrew Brunson said about his imprisonment in Turkey. He has released a book telling his story.

Turkey attacks Kurdish territories after the withdrawal of US forces. The move could lead to “one more tragedy to the Christian presence in Syria”.

All of them served in Turkey. Former church leader in Izmir Andrew Brunson thanks all those who prayed for him during his two-year imprisonment.

The court in Izmir has decided to keep the US Protestant in jail until the next hearing, in October.

Despite losing votes, the President wins the Presidential election (52%) and gains new powers as head of government. Opposition parties such as the pro-Kurds gain seats in Parliament.

The popularity of the powerful President is falling strongly. “None of the parties have mentioned religious freedom” in the campaign, says Turkish Protestant Pastor Ihsan Özbek.

A secret witness accused the US pastor in Izmir of supporting the Kurdish PKK movement. Three witnesses submitted by the defense were not allowed to testify.

Norine Brunson attended the hearing in Izmir on Monday. “The truth was spoken by Andrew and the Lord's name was glorified”.

Mass arrests, torture and arbitrary sackings are denounced by the United Nations. Pastor Andrew Brunson is one of the many imprisoned after the failed coup in 2016.

Fifty-seven countries respond to Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city.

President Erdogan suggests he would be open to a prisoner exchange with the US. The pastor's wife shares a song he has written in prison: “My tears and pain I lift up as an offering”.

Pastor Andrew Brunson was serving in a church in Izmir when he was detained almost one year ago. Turkish Protestants said the accusations are “absurd”.

The opposition calls to invalidate the result of the constitutional referendum and the OSCE says it was not a “genuinely democratic process.” Christians in the country have been increasingly targeted under the pro-Muslim President.

The Turkish President continues inflammatory rhetoric against EU leaders. April referendum could expand his powers.

Plans for a new constitution would make it easier for the head of state to order a state of emergency. The post of Prime Minister could be abolished. 

Nationals of Germany, Belgium and France among victims of New Year’s Day attack. In Turkey, 300 people were killed in terrorist attacks in 2016.

Rev. Andrew Brunson has been serving in Turkey for 23 years. After being detained for 64 days, he now faces “terrorism” charges and alleged links with the Fetullah Gulen movement.