[PJ Media] Turkey’s Dogan Holding held two international events on October 20 in Washington, D.C., reported the Dogan News Agency (DHA), "in a bid to globally fight against the fallacies and prejudices directed toward Islam."
A panel titled "Islamophobia: Overcoming Myths and Engaging in a Better Conversation" was organized in cooperation with the U.S.-based Atlantic Council think tank and the Smithsonian Institution.
Also, the opening gala of the exhibition -- titled "The Art of the Qur’an: Treasures from the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts" -- was held on October 19 at the Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian.
Marking a first in the U.S., centuries-old Qur’ans taken from the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum in Istanbul are being shown at the exhibition, which is being sponsored by the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, Koc Holding, Dogan Group, and Turkish Airlines. The exhibition will be open through February 20, 2017.
While the Turkish government and Turkish organizations are striving so hard to "fight against Islamophobia," religious minorities and even non-observant Muslims in Turkey are continually exposed to discrimination, physical violence, as well as unlawful detentions and deportations.
The latest Christian victims are Rev. Andrew Brunson and his wife Norine. The pastor of the Resurrection Church in the city of Izmir, and his wife were detained on October 7.
Norine was released on October 20. She is allowed to stay in Turkey only until November 12, when her residence permit will expire. However, Turkish authorities are still holding her husband in isolation in an Izmir detention facility on the grounds that he is "a national security threat to Turkey." The couple has resided in Turkey for the past 20 years.
Rev. Brunson has been refused contact with lawyers since he was detained.
Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Ankara went to Izmir to see Brunson, but they were prevented by Turkish authorities from contacting the pastor.
Con't. 
|
