"Istanbul Church Attack: Impact on Interfaith Relations and Extremism"

The victim of the recent attack on a Catholic church in Istanbul was Tuncer Murat Cihan, a 52-year-old Muslim man who regularly attended Mass and was described as a "pure angel" by the Catholic Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro. Cihan, an Alevi Muslim with a mental disability, was laid to rest in a funeral at an Alevi place of worship. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, and two suspects have been arrested. The Turkish bishops’ conference has called for prayers for the victim and his family, while also urging for the truth to be revealed and greater security to be guaranteed for communities and churches.