…so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7
Tilman Ekkehart Geske, Necati Aydin,
and Ugur Yuksel (2007)
Murderers Forgiven
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34a). This was the verse Tilman’s widow read during a TV interview in which she publicly forgave the men who had killed her husband. Necati’s widow also publicly expressed her forgiveness. Their husbands, along with Ugur, who was single, were killed on 18 April 2007, in Malatya, eastern Turkey.
The three men were found in the publishing house where Necati and Ugur worked, which printed Bibles and other Christian literature. Each man had been bound to a chair by his hands and feet; they had been stabbed and had their throats cut. Ugur was still alive when they were found, but died later in hospital. German national Tilman worked for a Christian translation company; Necati and Ugur were both converts from Islam.
Five men suspected of involvement in the murders had been to a church service led by Necati, and two of them had been out with him giving away New Testaments on the street. They had arranged to meet with him on the morning of the attack to learn more about the Bible.
Oh, what their joy and their glory must be,
Those endless Sabbaths the blessed ones see;
Crowns for the valiant, for weary ones rest:
God shall be all, and in all ever blest.
There, where no trouble distraction can bring,
We the sweet anthems of Zion shall sing,
While for thy grace, Lord, their voices of praise
Thy blessed people eternally raise.
Peter Abelard (1079-1142)
Translated by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)