A Christian in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal storage of Bibles in order to settle a long-running legal dispute.
Ryan Keating, originally from the United States, accepted a fine of 10,000 Turkish lira (£196; $235; €216) at a court in Famagusta on 15 April.
Ryan was initially charged with the illegal import of Christian books in March 2021. During a raid at his business premises by police and customs officials 20 Bibles and 86 New Testaments in Farsi were found, along with 15 Bibles and 92 New Testaments in Arabic, and two boxes of John’s Gospels in both Farsi and Arabic.
Ryan Keating was fined for the illegal storage of Christian books [Image credit: Middle East Concern]
In 2023, the accusation of illegally importing Bibles and other Christian books at Ryan’s home address in Iskele was withdrawn pending a decision from the Famagusta District Court.
At a hearing in Famagusta in March 2025, this charge was dropped but replaced with a fresh charge of storing books imported illegally into Northern Cyprus.
Ryan is also charged with providing barista training without official permission from the Ministry of Education at a café he runs in Iskele.
The books were valued at between 48,000 and 58,000 Turkish lira (approximately £4,280 and £5,170; $5,140 and $6,200; €4,700 and €5,700). If he had been convicted on the original charge Ryan would have been liable to pay a fine of ten times that value.
Ryan and his family moved to Northern Cyprus after he was given a lifetime ban in 2016 on the grounds of national security from Turkey where he had lived and worked for ten years as a doctoral student and head of a Christian charity.
In 1974 Turkey invaded Christian-majority Cyprus and gained control of the northern third of the island. In 1983 the Turkish-administered zone unilaterally declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This declaration was rejected by the United Nations and the Republic of Northern Cyprus is only officially recognised by Turkey.
How you can pray
Give thanks that the long-running case has been concluded. Pray that the Bibles will be distributed in time to those most in need. Pray that Ryan’s lawyer will be able to negotiate the full withdrawal of charges relating to Ryan’s business in Iskele. Ask God to supply wisdom and discernment to Christians in Northern Cyprus as they seek to grow in faith amid the constraints they encounter.
