Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is one of the world’s worst persecutors of Christians, according to a recent report.

Every year, International Christian Concern (ICC) publishes a report on the worst persecutors of Christians in three categories: countries, groups, and individuals. This year, President Erdogan is highlighted as one of the worst individuals for Christian persecution. According to the report, President Erdogan’s persecution is not just confined to the domestic persecution of Christians in Turkey, but is also regional and international.

President Erdogan’s persecution has been carried out under the guise of anti-terrorism operations against Christian villages in northern Iraq and Syria. Regional attacks have also been carried out by private mercenaries and militias supported by President Erdogan.

It is possible that President Erdogan’s persecution of Christians stems from his world view. His ideology has been highlighted by both Christians and Jews because of his Islamist rhetoric, which has been compared to the rhetoric of ISIS with a strong desire to establish an end-time caliphate to rule the world.

Muslims, like Christians, believe that the end times are upon us. In Islamic teaching, a messianic figure will rise up before the Day of Judgement and bring the world under the submission of Islam. The messianic figure, known as the Mahdi, will eradicate Christianity. This ideology contributes to the strong spread of hatred for both Christians and Jews who refuse to submit to Islam.