David Byle, a joint U.S. and Canadian citizen, was arrested after a routine I.D. check at Ankara train station on Saturday 13 October and taken to the Anti-terror Police Department for interrogation. David was released on Sunday afternoon, but given fifteen days to leave the country.
David has been serving in Turkey for eighteen years and has faced a number of deportation attempts due to his evangelistic efforts. He was first arrested in 2007 while conducting street evangelism. The official police report accused him of “missionary activity, disturbing the peace and insulting Islam.” He was detained for three days at that time, but since missionary activity is legal in Turkey, and the literature he distributed did not slander Islam, a later court dropped the charges....