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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Sept 27 2012
Armenians call on Habertürk editor-in-chief to return church as gesture
27 September 2012 / SEVGI AKARÇEÅ?ME, Ä°STANBUL
Members of the Armenian community in Turkey have called on journalist
and Habertürk daily Editor-in-Chief Fatih Altaylı to return a church
in Van he inherited from his grandfather, after Van's Directorate of
Cultural Affairs inquired as to the owner of the historic church,
known as `Seven Churches,' in the village of Yukarı Bakraçlı, during a
restoration project.
Stating that the church had belonged to his grandfather, Altaylı
commented: `No one has asked me anything on the matter. I would give
any necessary authorization [to the state]. If the state asked me to
sell it, I'd sell it. What am I going to do with a church?' He also
added that he does not have sufficient financial resources to restore
and maintain the church privately.
Altaylı's ownership of the ruined Armenian church has sparked a debate
in social media, particularly among Armenians and liberals. Activist
Hayko BaÄ?dat, who started a campaign over social media calling on
Altaylı to return the church, told Today's Zaman, `Because Altaylı is
a known figure in society he can provide a window of opportunity to
discuss what happened to the properties of Armenians who are no longer
[living in the region].'
BaÄ?dat was critical of Altaylı's remarks regarding the sale of the
church, stating, `Whose church are you selling to whom?' He called on
the public to examine how the property of Armenians who left these
lands in the past has been redistributed.
Garo Paylan, an activist working for an Armenian civil society
organization, told Today's Zaman that there are 2,000 Armenian
churches left in Turkey today, with 1,500 of them in villages and
small towns and badly in need of restoration. `The Seven Churches,
which is now owned by Altaylı, is one of the rare, historical churches
in relatively good shape,' stated Paylan, adding, `None of the
original owners of these properties are alive.'
Describing the news of Altaylı's ownership of an Armenian church as a
`striking example and tool to make us talk about the transfer of
properties in Anatolia, which is hardly talked about in Turkey,'
Paylan hopes to raise awareness among the public on the transfer of
Armenian properties without the consent of the original owners.
Referring to the TaÅ?oran Armenian Church in Malatya, now owned by the
state, Paylan said: `No foundation able to inherit is left for this
church. No one can claim it, despite the government's step [towards
returning the properties of minorities]. But if the state wants to, it
can be returned to the Patriarchy, or other Armenian institutions.'
BaÄ?dat noted that a campaign to collect signatures calling on Altaylı
to return the church has been initiated.
From: Baghdasarian
Sept 27 2012
Armenians call on Habertürk editor-in-chief to return church as gesture
27 September 2012 / SEVGI AKARÇEÅ?ME, Ä°STANBUL
Members of the Armenian community in Turkey have called on journalist
and Habertürk daily Editor-in-Chief Fatih Altaylı to return a church
in Van he inherited from his grandfather, after Van's Directorate of
Cultural Affairs inquired as to the owner of the historic church,
known as `Seven Churches,' in the village of Yukarı Bakraçlı, during a
restoration project.
Stating that the church had belonged to his grandfather, Altaylı
commented: `No one has asked me anything on the matter. I would give
any necessary authorization [to the state]. If the state asked me to
sell it, I'd sell it. What am I going to do with a church?' He also
added that he does not have sufficient financial resources to restore
and maintain the church privately.
Altaylı's ownership of the ruined Armenian church has sparked a debate
in social media, particularly among Armenians and liberals. Activist
Hayko BaÄ?dat, who started a campaign over social media calling on
Altaylı to return the church, told Today's Zaman, `Because Altaylı is
a known figure in society he can provide a window of opportunity to
discuss what happened to the properties of Armenians who are no longer
[living in the region].'
BaÄ?dat was critical of Altaylı's remarks regarding the sale of the
church, stating, `Whose church are you selling to whom?' He called on
the public to examine how the property of Armenians who left these
lands in the past has been redistributed.
Garo Paylan, an activist working for an Armenian civil society
organization, told Today's Zaman that there are 2,000 Armenian
churches left in Turkey today, with 1,500 of them in villages and
small towns and badly in need of restoration. `The Seven Churches,
which is now owned by Altaylı, is one of the rare, historical churches
in relatively good shape,' stated Paylan, adding, `None of the
original owners of these properties are alive.'
Describing the news of Altaylı's ownership of an Armenian church as a
`striking example and tool to make us talk about the transfer of
properties in Anatolia, which is hardly talked about in Turkey,'
Paylan hopes to raise awareness among the public on the transfer of
Armenian properties without the consent of the original owners.
Referring to the TaÅ?oran Armenian Church in Malatya, now owned by the
state, Paylan said: `No foundation able to inherit is left for this
church. No one can claim it, despite the government's step [towards
returning the properties of minorities]. But if the state wants to, it
can be returned to the Patriarchy, or other Armenian institutions.'
BaÄ?dat noted that a campaign to collect signatures calling on Altaylı
to return the church has been initiated.
From: Baghdasarian