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Turkey accused of cynical motives for restoring churches in north Syria

Critics say Turkey is taking superficial steps to serve religious minorities in the areas under its control in Syria for the sake of its image before the West.
Turkish soldiers carry out maintenance work at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mar Tuma in the center of Ras al-Ain, Syria, in a photo posted July 14, 2021.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense recently announced that its armed forces carried out maintenance work on the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mar Tuma (St. Thomas) in the center of Ras al-Ain in northern Syria.

The ministry added in the July 14 statement that the Turkish armed forces have paid great attention to the restoration and maintenance of religious buildings in the Operation Peace Spring area.

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