On 28th September Middle East Concern issued a prayer request after the First Criminal Court of Malatya in Turkey issued a verdict in the Malatya Zirve murder trial, related to the killing of three Christians in Malatya in 2007.
The five perpetrators – caught red-handed at the crime scene – were handed three consecutive life sentences, but to the dismay of the relatives of the victims and the wider Christian community, they were not arrested pending the review of the verdict by a higher court.
However, citing fears that the perpetrators may flee Turkey, the prosecutor Burhanettin Olgun requested their arrest and on the evening of 29th September they were arrested.
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Prayer points
Christians in Turkey are grateful for this development and request continued prayers that:
a. the motivation and the masterminds behind these murders will be revealed
b. the review process of the verdict will proceed smoothly, and the guilty verdict will be upheld
