Turkey: Widow of Christian martyr plans to visit murder suspects |
| Feb 05 2008 |
Turkey: Widow of Christian martyr plans to visit murder suspects
The widow of a Christian tortured and murdered for his faith in eastern Turkey has said she wants to visit the murder suspects in custody, as their trial gets underway.
Susanne Geske told the media that she was 'waiting for the right time' to approach the five young Muslims accused of killing her German husband Tilmann and two Turkish Christians, Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel.
The three were murdered at a printing house in Malatya on April 18 last year (7x7, 1 May 2007). The defendants, who have pleaded guilty, are university students aged 19 and 20.
'I don't want to ask them questions: I just have something to say,' said Susanne. 'My children are asking, “When will we go to them?”'
The first of the five defendants Hamit Ceker, who took the witness stand on 14 January, said their aim had been to gather incriminating evidence against Christians, not kill them. The court heard that the murders were part of a broader plot to stop Christian missionary activity in Malatya.
Ceker told the judge the situation had only turned 'tense' when Aydin had told the five Muslim attackers, 'We are all the children of Jesus.'
The court interrogation of the four remaining suspects is set for 25 February.
Thank God for Susanne Geske's courage. Ask God to comfort all three families.
Pray God's protection over Turkish Christians, who face mounting opposition from Turkish nationalists and Islamist radicals.
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