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Agence France Presse
January 25, 2013 Friday 6:08 PM GMT
Turkey rights group condemns attacks against elderly Armenians
ISTANBUL, Jan 25 2013
A Turkish human rights group on Friday voiced concern over a spate of
attacks targeting elderly Armenian women in an Istanbul neighbourhood.
Turkey's Human Rights Association (IHD) called the violence, which has
left one victim dead, a "systematic campaign" against some of the most
vulnerable members of the Armenian community in Samatya.
"It is a clear message to Armenians that they will not be allowed to
die in their beds in peace," the group said in a statement.
The condemnation comes after five cases of violence or attempted
violence were recorded in recent months against elderly Armenians in
Istanbul's historic Samatya neighbourhood.
In November, 87-year-old Turfanda Asik was found at her home severely
beaten by an unidentified attacker, IHD reported, adding that nothing
was stolen. The woman suffered fractures and lost sight in one eye.
A month later, 84-year-old Marissa Kucuk died after being stripped,
beaten and stabbed, according to IHD. Again, nothing was stolen.
Three more incidents occurred in January, where elderly Armenian women
were assaulted as they were walking home in Samatya, known for its
large Armenian community, the group said.
Turkey's Armenian minority numbers around 70,000 people, most of them
living in Istanbul. They often complain of being considered
second-class citizens in the country.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in a
1915-16 genocide by Turkey's former Ottoman Empire. Turkey says
500,000 died of fighting and starvation during World War I and
categorically rejects the term genocide.
January 25, 2013 Friday 6:08 PM GMT
Turkey rights group condemns attacks against elderly Armenians
ISTANBUL, Jan 25 2013
A Turkish human rights group on Friday voiced concern over a spate of
attacks targeting elderly Armenian women in an Istanbul neighbourhood.
Turkey's Human Rights Association (IHD) called the violence, which has
left one victim dead, a "systematic campaign" against some of the most
vulnerable members of the Armenian community in Samatya.
"It is a clear message to Armenians that they will not be allowed to
die in their beds in peace," the group said in a statement.
The condemnation comes after five cases of violence or attempted
violence were recorded in recent months against elderly Armenians in
Istanbul's historic Samatya neighbourhood.
In November, 87-year-old Turfanda Asik was found at her home severely
beaten by an unidentified attacker, IHD reported, adding that nothing
was stolen. The woman suffered fractures and lost sight in one eye.
A month later, 84-year-old Marissa Kucuk died after being stripped,
beaten and stabbed, according to IHD. Again, nothing was stolen.
Three more incidents occurred in January, where elderly Armenian women
were assaulted as they were walking home in Samatya, known for its
large Armenian community, the group said.
Turkey's Armenian minority numbers around 70,000 people, most of them
living in Istanbul. They often complain of being considered
second-class citizens in the country.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in a
1915-16 genocide by Turkey's former Ottoman Empire. Turkey says
500,000 died of fighting and starvation during World War I and
categorically rejects the term genocide.