Dive Brief:
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The first Christian church to be built in Turkey since the modern republic was established in 1923 has been approved for construction.
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Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said last week the Syriac Christian church will be built in the Istanbul suburb of Yesilkoy, near older churches serving the Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic populations.
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Turkey’s population includes approximately 100,000 Christians, including about 20,000 Syriacs—a term for Syrian Christians. The Muslim population there totals 80 million.
Dive Insight:
While builders have been allowed to renovate and reopen existing churches in Turkey, the building of new structures was banned in 1923. Approval of the new church reportedly is part of an effort by the government to win its bid to join the European Union Amlara.