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TURKEY'S ARMENIAN COMMUNITY ON ALERT AFTER ATTACKS
NaharNet, Lebanon
May 6 2013
by Naharnet Newsdesk
Turkish Armenians are on edge after weekend attacks against members of
the community during Orthodox Easter raised fears about their security.
An unidentified assailant fired seven blank rounds outside an Armenian
church in Istanbul's Kumkapi neighborhood on Sunday, causing panic
among people celebrating Easter there, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.
A young Armenian was also beaten the same day by a gang outside
a church in the nearby neighborhood of Samatya, Archbishop Aram
Atesyan of the Armenian Orthodox patriarchate, was quoted as saying
by the newspaper.
"These attacks are designed to intimidate members of our community
and other minority groups," he said, appealing for greater security.
Last month, a group of about 30 to 40 people attacked an evangelical
church shortly after it was inaugurated, the Association of Protestant
Churches in Turkey said.
"The attackers smashed the windows of the church by throwing stones
and eggs and tried to enter it," the association said in a statement.
Several attacks in recent years have targeted members of the Christian
community, including priests, in predominantly Muslim but staunchly
secular Turkey.
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.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/82154-turkey-s-armenian-community-on-alert-after-attacks
From: A. Papazian
NaharNet, Lebanon
May 6 2013
by Naharnet Newsdesk
Turkish Armenians are on edge after weekend attacks against members of
the community during Orthodox Easter raised fears about their security.
An unidentified assailant fired seven blank rounds outside an Armenian
church in Istanbul's Kumkapi neighborhood on Sunday, causing panic
among people celebrating Easter there, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.
A young Armenian was also beaten the same day by a gang outside
a church in the nearby neighborhood of Samatya, Archbishop Aram
Atesyan of the Armenian Orthodox patriarchate, was quoted as saying
by the newspaper.
"These attacks are designed to intimidate members of our community
and other minority groups," he said, appealing for greater security.
Last month, a group of about 30 to 40 people attacked an evangelical
church shortly after it was inaugurated, the Association of Protestant
Churches in Turkey said.
"The attackers smashed the windows of the church by throwing stones
and eggs and tried to enter it," the association said in a statement.
Several attacks in recent years have targeted members of the Christian
community, including priests, in predominantly Muslim but staunchly
secular Turkey.
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.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/82154-turkey-s-armenian-community-on-alert-after-attacks
From: A. Papazian