ISTANBUL, Turkey, Nov. 15 — "When we launched the Bible in modern Turkish on October 6, five newspapers, two television stations and a radio station ran stories about the new scripture," said Ameniel Bagdas, Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in Turkey.
The media reported that this was the first new translation of the Turkish Bible in 300 years. The previous one was completed around 1666 by Ali Bey - the Sultan's personal translator.
Newspapers which covered this story included some of Turkey's most influential and popular dailies. They have a combined readership of more than two million.
Bagdas commented how how public attitudes to the Bible in this secular state have changed in recent years.
"In 1974 the Bible Society applied to the Tercüman Newspaper and a Turkish television channel to advertise the Turkish Bible and New Testament," Mr Bagdas said. "I had a contact with the newspaper's editor, who agreed to run the advert in a Saturday edition.
The day the advert appeared, the newspaper received hundreds of telephone calls from people threatening to burn their offices and kill the owners of the newspaper. The editor came to my office, returned the money we had paid for the advert, and apologized that he would no longer be able to advertise our products."
"It has been a real blessing to see that the Turkish media today are able to advertise the Turkish Bible without fear," said Mr Bagdas. "My staff and I are thankful to God, who uses many different methods to share his Word."
Source: United Bible Societies
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