Court to Assess Injured Christian’s Recovery

(Compass) – The Orhangazi Criminal Court in northwestern Turkey has set July 8 as the date to assess new medical reports on the condition of Turkish Christian Yakup Cindilli, still recovering from severe injuries inflicted in October 2003 by ultra-nationalists accusing him of “missionary propaganda.” Trial against his attackers was postponed for 15 months so the court could determine the extent of Cindilli’s injuries. “After more than 40 days in a coma,” the pastor of the Bursa Protestant Church commented, “it’s a miracle that Yakup is alive today.” Cindilli’s family reportedly wants his court case to conclude at the July 8 hearing, without trying to obtain compensation from his attackers for his long-term disabilities. But that decision now remains with Cindilli, who has recovered sufficiently to speak for himself. Despite pressures from his religiously conservative Muslim family to renounce his faith, “Yakup is very committed to stay faithful to Jesus, in spite of what happened,” a member of the Bursa church noted.