Mehmet Çolak, a preacher and administrator at the Liberation Church in Malatya (Meletî), Turkey, has reported receiving death threats by a group calling themselves the Turkish Revenge Brigade. The incident occurred on 10 August 2023, while Çolak was visiting the Church of St. John the Baptist in Konak district of Turkey’s western city Izmir.
According to Çolak, he was followed by three individuals who approached him, asking if he had a Bible. Upon his denial, the individuals stated, “We know you very well, watch your step. We will wipe Christians like you from this land, we will behead all of you. You will change your religion.” They further threatened him with a bullet, saying, “If you don’t leave the church, we will behead you, be aware,” while identifying themselves as members of the Turkish Revenge Brigade.
Çolak said that he has previously been threatened multiple times due to his religious beliefs. He recalled the brutal killing of three Christians, one German and two Turkish citizens, in Malatya on 18 April 2007, stating, “There is freedom of belief in democratic countries. We cannot live or promote our faith. We were constantly threatened because of our faith, but these threats intensified after the recent elections. Our former church administrator was threatened by those claiming to be JİTEM last year. The threateners were never punished.”
Following the threat, Çolak went to the police and was then directed to the Prosecutor’s Office. However, he was informed that the office hours had ended, and the complaint was not taken. He sought legal support from the Human Rights Association (İHD) Izmir Branch and later filed a criminal complaint with his lawyer during office hours. Despite the passage of nine days, there has been no development regarding the complaint.
“We want respect for all beliefs. We want a country where all identities live together,” Çolak added.
