June 3, 2010. The apostolic vicar in Anatolia was stabbed to death in his house in the city of Iskenderun in Turkey. This was not an anti-Christian hate crime. Authorities have detained the bishop's murderer. It was his personal driver of more than four years. According to authorities, he is mentally unstable, with serious psychological problems.

The bishop presided over the episcopal conference in Turkey. He had planned on a trip  to Cyprus to accompany the pope during his visit to the island.

It has been four years, in February 2006, since another priest was murdered in Turkey. The murderer confessed that it was in retaliation for the publication of cartoons against Muhammad in a Danish newspaper.

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