431 replies to this topic

[Yervant1]

Panorama, Armenia

Jan 21 2020

 

 

Historic Armenian church in Turkey damaged by treasure hunters

 

The historic Surp Asdvadzadzin (Holy Mother of God) Armenian church in the village of Bagpinar in Turkey’s Kayseri (Kesaria) Province has repeatedly been attacked by treasure hunters, Ermenihaber reported.

As a result of the attacks, the church has suffered significant damages. Especially the frescoes have been destroyed due to the holes dug into the church walls. 

In an interview with a Turkish media outlet, Bagpinar Mayor Omer Nalbant expressed regret over the poor state of the church, expressing hope that the authorities will restore the church to turn it into a tourist destination.

According to Nalband, he repeatedly placed metal doors and locks on the church, but to no avail, as thieves would break them every time.

According to the Turkish source, representatives of the Kayseri Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism said all churches in the province have been registered, adding restoration works are planned but no dates have been set.

https://www.panorama...-Turkey/2226376

[Yervant1]

Orthodox Times

Feb 12 2020

 

 

More than 16,000 antiquities stolen from Turkish-occupied Cyprus, even found in Japan

 

Feb 12, 2020 | 10:49

 

© KYPE-CNA

 

More than 16,000 Christian icons, mosaics and murals dating from to 6th and 5th centuries have been forcibly stolen and sold abroad since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, according to the Director of the Office for Combating Illegal Possession and Trafficking of Antiquities, Michalis Gavriilidis.

 

In a lecture he gave on Monday night at the University of Cyprus Archeology Research Unit, Michalis Gavriilidis said that after the Cyprus invasion in 1974, Byzantine artworks were even found in Kyoto, Japan (Fragments of Royal Doors from Peristeronopigi were fund in Kanazawa College of Arts). He added that efforts are being made to repatriate them and he hoped to return to Cyprus soon.

 

As Gavriilidis pointed out, illicit trafficking of cultural property is one of the most serious forms of crime today. “The annual cost of illicit trafficking and trade of artifacts and cultural goods worldwide is estimated to be more than $ 10 billion,” he said.

 

“Illegal trafficking of cultural heritage is an international crime that many countries suffer from, including Cyprus, especially after the 1974 Turkish invasion. It is a scourge affecting the countries of origin and the countries of transit and final destination of the stolen works. Just by listing the countries whose cultural heritage has been plundered by traffickers in recent years, the magnitude of the crime will be ascertained: Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iraq and Cyprus and many more countries all over the world,” he said.

 

Gavriilidis also noted that the international community had become more sensitive about this issue, especially after the disaster in Palmyra, Syria, which put other countries that had suffered a similar disaster on the spotlight, such as Cyprus. The Council of the European Union, INTERPOL, EUROPOL and other international organizations, such as UNESCO, WCO, etc., have undertaken work in this respect, something which assists our efforts, he noted.

 

Source: KYPE-CNA

 

https://orthodoxtime...zXZiesmYfpRC2Tg

[MosJan]

[Yervant1]

Panorama, Armenia

March 4 2020

 

 

Politics 14:52 04/03/2020Region

Turkish host tells foreign nationals, including Armenians, to get out of Turkey

The host of one of the local television stations in Turkey’s Urfa Province has made xenophobic statements.

Trying to justify the Turkish military operations in Syria’s Idlib, he called on foreign nationals living in Turkey, including Armenians, to get out of the the country, Ermenihaber reported.

“There may be people who think that this country is not their homeland and they don’t belong to this nation. This is a wonderful opportunity for them. As long as the borders are open to refugees, you, too, can disguise as refugees and leave the country,” he said.

“You can say: I am not the son of this country, I am a Russian grandson, a son of a German, a grandson of an Englishman, an Armenian… If so, the borders are open, get out of here, go!” he said.

https://www.panorama...sh-host/2249714

[Yervant1]

Another routine day at the Turkish hamam!

Panorama, Armenia

March 5 2020

 

 

Politics 12:39 05/03/2020Region

Brawl erupts in Turkish parliament over military action in Syria

A brawl broke out in Turkey's parliament on Wednesday during tense discussions over Turkey's military involvement in northwest Syria, Euronews reported. 

Video images showed dozens of legislators from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party and from the main opposition party pushing each other.

In the footage, some are seen throwing punches while others try to pull the legislators apart.

The clash on Wednesday started when Engin Ozkoc of the opposition Republican People's Party took the rostrum. During a news conference shortly before, Ozkoc called Erdogan "dishonourable, ignoble, low and treacherous".

He also accused the president of sending the children of Turkey's people to fight while Erdogan's own offspring allegedly avoided long-term military service.

During a speech to members of his party, Erdogan himself had accused the opposition earlier of being "dishonourable, ignoble, low and treacherous" for questioning Turkey's military involvement in Syria's northwest Idlib province.

https://www.panorama...liament/2250243

 

 

[Yervant1]

ArMedia

March 6 2020

 

 

Garo Paylan: Putin Made Erdogan Sit under the Statue of Catherine the Great who Symbolizes Russia's Victory over the Ottomans

 

03.06.2020, 20:02

 EEU,  Region,  World

 

Armenia's MP of the Turkish Parliament Garo Paylan criticized Turkish President Recep Erdogan over negotiations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

 

"Erdogan suffered a great defeat in Russia, and Putin got everything he wanted. Moreover, Putin had Erdogan sit under the statue of Catherine the Great who symbolizes Russia's victory over the Ottomans in 1878. What a shame," wrote Paylan.

 

--------------

app-facebook

Garo Paylan - Կարօ Փայլան

12 hours ago

Erdoğan Rusya’da büyük hezimet yaşadı.
Putin her istediğini aldı.
Yetmezmiş gibi, Erdoğan’ın ekibini Osmanlı’yı defalarca yenen Katerina heykelinin altına dizdi.
Rusya’nın 1878’deki Osmanlı’ya karşı zaferini betimleyen biblo ise Erdoğan’ın tam arkasındaydı.
Büyük rezalet!

 

 

https://armedia.am/e...e-ottomans.html

[Yervant1]

Turkish President Orders Minority

            Leaders to Sign a Propaganda Letter

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

It has been the long-standing practice of the Turkish government to
pressure the leaders of minority religious groups in Turkey to issue
public statements in defense of Turkish policies and war efforts or to
condemn Armenian Genocide resolutions adopted by various foreign
countries.

The leaders of the Armenian, Assyrian, Greek and Jewish communities
are used to this practice and have willingly complied with the Turkish
demands knowing that not doing so can only spell trouble for them
personally and for their respective communities.

In the past, such orders were given to the minority leaders in a more
delicate manner. For example, a Turkish official would either call or
visit the Armenian Patriarch in Istanbul and discreetly suggest that
it may be a good idea for him to issue a public announcement on some
political issue. Naturally, the previous Patriarchs have never refused
such suggestions which are more like orders from the Turkish
government. The only difference between the reactions of different
Patriarchs has been to somewhat soften or harden the language of their
announcements.

What we are experiencing now is completely different. The autocratic
government of Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has become so tyrannical that
last week it sent a letter to the four minority religious leaders in
Turkey asking that they sign it and send it back to the President’s
Communication Office. All four immediately complied.

The minor surprise was that a week before Pres. Erdogan sent a letter
to the minority religious leaders, the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey
issued an announcement basically supporting the sentiments expressed
in Erdogan’s subsequent letter. The Patriarch should not be blamed
neither for writing his own propaganda letter in advance nor signing
the government’s dictated letter. After all, the Patriarch knows what
is expected of him and made his announcement without waiting for
official orders.

The issue in this case is the Turkish military’s recent invasion of
Northern Syria which resulted in the deaths of scores of Turkish
soldiers. The Armenian Patriarchate issued the following statement:

“The attack in Idlib [Syria], resulting in the martyrdom of 33 heroic
Turkish soldiers, caused a great shock in our country. Wholeheartedly
sharing the pain of our nation, we seek God’s mercy for the martyrs.
Our heroic army is the guarantor of our state’s existence. To all the
members of the army who have lost their comrades-in-arms we urge
endurance. We also continue to pray that peace may reign in the world
and particularly in our region. In the name of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Turkey, the Religious Council, and all members of the
community, we would like to share with the public our belief that it
will be possible to overcome this difficult process in an atmosphere
of unity and solidarity.”

The Patriarchate subsequently signed the more propagandistic letter
drafted by the office of Pres. Erdogan. Here are excerpts from that
two-page letter:

“Our country has always been a pioneer of the steps that serve peace
in its region and in the world, inspired by its ancient history and
deep-rooted civilization. Since our War of Independence, very
important struggles have been carried out for our independence,
security and welfare.

“In each of these struggles, the spirit of mobilization revealed by
our cherished nation constitutes a unique example for the whole world.
As non-governmental organizations, we fully support the steps of our
state, which are based on the country’s security and interests, and
that also protect the establishment and maintenance of peace in our
region….

“We argue that this struggle to dry terrorism at its source should be
continued with the same determination. We know that to question
Turkey’s presence in Syria means to ignore our border security.

“Various countries’ approach in favor of terrorist groups and in
support of regional instability has shown that we often fight this
alone.

 “However, our nation, which has a foresight, has always been and will
continue to be with its state. As non-governmental organizations, we
take pride in being part of this cherished nation. In line with the
developments in our region, we state that we are behind every decision
taken by our state against these cruel murderers and monsters for the
peace and security of our country and we support every step taken. No
one should doubt that we will overcome all difficulties in unity and
solidarity, as it has been until today.

“Turkey is a country of peace. Turkey is the key to peace in the
region and the world.

“Despite all the obstacles and attacks on our way, we would like to
announce to the world that we are ready to support our state and army,
and struggle with them when necessary, in order to protect our
national security, prevent new humanitarian crises and establish peace
in our region.

“We are once again shouting to the world that we will protect this
homeland, under all circumstances, and struggle with the integration
of the state-nation, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder.”

However, not all Turkish citizens support their government’s invasion
of Syria. Cumhuriyet newspaper wrote a scathing article accusing Pres.
Erdogan of pressuring the minorities.

Toma Chelik, a member of the Turkish Parliament representing HDP,
Kurdish-affiliated party, sent a letter to the Vice President of
Turkey, asking the following questions:

Who prepared the text of the President’s letter to the minorities?

Who decided to send the letter to the minorities?

To what other groups was this letter sent?

Will those refusing to sign the letter be punished?

At a time when thousands of innocent citizens of Turkey and dozens of
journalists have been thrown in jail by the Erdogan regime, anyone who
does not obey the diktats of Erdogan risks incarceration. While Pres.
Erdogan is unable to come to an agreement with Western Europe, the
United States and Russia on the conflict with Syria, it is much easier
for him to take his frustration and revenge on innocent people within
Turkey.

[Yervant1]

 Erdogan Should be Tried by International

            Criminal Court for Supporting Terrorism

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Last week, I reported that Pres. Erdogan’s office sent a letter to the
heads of religious minorities in Turkey demanding that they sign it
and send it back to the President. In that letter, Erdogan falsely
claimed that Turkey was alone on the forefront of the fight against
international terrorism.

Contrary to Erdogan’s claims, there have been dozens of reports in the
international media proving that Turkey was in fact on the forefront
of those assisting ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

Ahmet S. Yayla is someone who has first-hand knowledge of the Turkish
government’s support for ISIS as he was the chief of counterterrorism
and operations in Turkey from 2010 to 2013, and chief of public order
and criminal investigations in Sanliurfa, Turkey, from 2013 to 2014.
Sanliurfa was the endpoint of the ISIS “jihadi highway.” Yayla wrote
an in-depth article on March 6, 2020, in The Investigative Journal,
exposing Erdogan’s complicity in terrorism. The article was titled,
“Try Erdogan at the International Criminal Court for Enabling ISIS.”

Yayla wrote that he had to leave his job in 2014 and retire “in order
not to be involved with Erdogan’s atrocities, which rise to the level
of crimes against humanity.”

According to Yayla, “ISIS would not have swelled to power or killed so
many if the Erdogan regime had not decided to support it directly or
indirectly from its emergence in 2014. The fact is, when ISIS set up
shop in Raqqa [Syria] in 2014, the Turkish Intelligence Agency (MIT)
was guarding its front door and putting out an elaborate welcome mat
for jihadist volunteers on their way to martyrdom. Turkey was a
central hub for the travel of over 50,000 ISIS foreign fighters, and
the main source of ISIS logistical materials, including the majority
of ISIS IEDs [Improvised Explosive Devices], making Turkey and ISIS
practically allies.”

Yayla also quoted an October 2019 U.S. Department of State publication
which reported that “Turkey remains a transit point for foreign
fighters looking to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which
could help the terrorist group to reorganize and regain influence.”
The U.S. Government further warned that “foreign fighters transiting
through Turkey could help Islamic State to regenerate.” ISIS was able
to relocate many of its high-profile and senior members to Turkey,
where they ran the terrorist organization’s day-to-day operations.

Yayla reported that “on December 3, 2019, terrorist kingpin Hamid
Shakir Saba’ al-Badri—cousin of deceased Abu Bakir al-Baghdadi —was
captured south of Kirkuk, Iraq, having returned from his safe haven in
Turkey. A Turkish ISIS prisoner in Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
custody told journalist Lindsey Snell about a giant safe house ISIS
maintained in Gaziantep, Turkey. The prisoner said, ‘there were so
many foreigners there; so many different languages. They (Turkey) knew
what we were there for.’”

Since Turkish leaders assisted ISIS, there was widespread support for
ISIS among the Turkish public. Reuters reported that according to
“Turkey’s Social Trends Survey,” conducted by an Ankara think tank,
9.3% of the respondents stated that ISIS was not a terrorist
organization, with 5.4% supporting its actions.

According to PEW research, 8% of the Turkish population had a
favorable view of ISIS. As a result, according to a recent Combating
Terrorism Center report, Turks contributed the highest number of
fighters to ISIS. There were up to 9,476 Turkish ISIS terrorists,
whereas there were more than 900 Azerbaijanis in the ranks of ISIS.

Turkey was also the source of continued supply of various materials
for ISIS, including boots, uniforms, vests, food and most importantly
explosives. Quoting from Conflict Armament Research (CAR), Yayla
reported that ISIS had “first, a major acquisition network operating
in Turkey and, second, a clear supply route from Turkey, through
Syria, to Iraq.” CAR also revealed that “Turkey is the most important
chokepoint for components used in the manufacture of IEDs” by the
Islamic State. In fact, CAR documented that ISIS fighters “source most
of the products used in the manufacture of weapons and ammunition from
the Turkish domestic market.”

A Turkish journalist, Tolga Tanis, was fired and slapped with a libel
investigation filed by Pres. Erdogan, when Tanis revealed how Turkish
companies were exporting explosive materials to ISIS.

Yayla also reported that “on November 18, 2019, the U.S. Department of
the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two
Turkish brothers, Ahmet and Ismail Bayaltun, as Turkey-based ‘ISIS
procurement agents’ in addition to four ISIS-linked companies
operating in Syria and Turkey. Bayaltun brothers were known for their
role in supplying ISIS, specifically shipping 48 tons of aluminum
paste to be used in ISIS IEDs. More importantly, the Bayaltun brothers
had a close relationship with AKP chairman Mustafa Bayaltun in
Sanliurfa, where their office is located.”

The role of the Turkish National Intelligence (MIT) in supporting
terrorism was revealed when the Turkish police stopped three trucks
operated by MIT on January 19, 2014, and found military-grade weapons
hidden underneath medicine boxes being transported to Syria.

Beyond supporting terrorism, Pres. Erdogan also purchased ISIS oil
through a Turkish front company named Powertrans controlled by his
son-in-law Berat Albayrak, according to Yayla. “Albayrak paid up to $3
million a day at the height of ISIS oil production. In fact, Erdogan
passed a bill to grant the rights to transfer oil by tanker and
contracted Powertrans without a public bid as the sole authorized
company. In addition to purchasing the ISIS oil, Erdogan tasked his
son, Bilal Erdogan, through his Maltese shipping company, the BMZ
Group, to sell ISIS oil on the world market.” In addition, Turkish
money transfer centers passed hundreds of thousands of dollars a day
to ISIS.

Yayla concluded: “In the end, ISIS would not have killed, wounded,
enslaved, and raped thousands of innocent people without the vast
support it enjoyed through Turkey. Erdogan and his co-conspirators
must be tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for
their crimes against humanity…. Turkish President Erdogan and his
co-conspirators have blood on their hands. Based on the well-
documented, incontestable, and undeniable evidence [that] exists, it
is clear that Erdogan has been directly and indirectly supporting
ISIS.”

[Yervant1]

Panorama, Armenia

April 23 2020

 

 

Culture 15:06 23/04/2020 Region

Two 17th-century Armenian graves found in Turkish province

Two Armenian graves were found during the construction of a park in Nazili town of Aydin Province in western Turkey.

The laborers discovered the tombstones while digging the ground. They informed the management of the Aydin Museum and the municipal authorities about the findings, Ermenihaber reported.

The director and deputy director of the Aydin Museum reportedly studied the tombstones bearing Armenian inscriptions on the spot. It is believed that they date back to the 17th century and are the graves of the Armenians who lived in Nazili.

The tombstones were later moved to a park in the town, the source said. 

https://www.panorama...rovince/2279334

[Yervant1]

Greek City Times

May 5 2020

 

 

Greek and Armenian “terrorists”! Wild comments by Erdoğan, but is he Greek himself? by Paul Antonopoulos

 

The economy is collapsing in Turkey, the Turkish lira reaches record lows against the U.S. Dollar and the Euro, coronavirus is out of control – BUT QUICK, look at the Greeks and Armenians!

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has completely lost control of the situation in Turkey. Not only did he fail to invade Greece, Libya and Syria this year through various means, but these were costly affairs that has contributed to the collapse of the Turkish economy and the declining lira. However, Erdoğan is attempting to distract Turks with ultra-nationalism.

A 2016 Daily Mail report found that a quarter of Turks live in extreme poverty and almost two million live on just $3.50 a day but Erdoğan’s wife, Emine, shuts down entire shopping malls in Europe to go on a private shopping spree. That is in 2016, so imagine the situation today with a massively contracted economy.

The Turkish currency has slipped past a key psychological level of 7.0366 per dollar and economists are less upbeat about inflation this year as it will finish at 10.6% and reach 9.9% at the end of 2021, according to a Bloomberg survey conducted April 24-28.

 

The situation is critical in Turkey. Over 127,000 cases of coronavirus and nearly 3,500 deaths, and that is if official government data is to be trusted.

Turkey is one of the lowest ranked countries for media freedoms in the world, is the second most susceptible country surveyed on the European continent and its surroundings to fake news, has the most journalists jailed in the whole world, and 90% of media is government controlled.

With this in mind, it is of little surprise that journalists and social media users who dispute the official number of coronavirus cases in Turkey are arrested.

So what is Erdoğan going to do with the mess he created himself?

He now resorts to the old age custom in Turkey of accusing political opposition of being crypto-Greeks and Armenians.

In a speech made yesterday, the Turkish President attempted to distract Turks from the declining economic situation made from his own doing and said ‘We will not allow these leftovers of the sword and terrorists to revolt. They still exist, although their numbers have decreased very much in our country.”

Erdogan is attempting to distract Turks by indirectly talking about Greek and Armenian “terrorists.”
Article is coming up soon that will tell you exactly what he said. pic.twitter.com/GL2PMIcbZQ

— Paul Antonopoulos (@oulosP) May 5, 2020

 

Although he does not say Greeks and Armenians directly, the _expression_ of “leftovers of the sword” is in reference to the Greeks and Armenians who survived the Turkish perpetrated genocide from 1913 to 1923 – and clearly he is paranoid that Greeks and Armenians still exist in Turkey, albeit hidden.

Turkey is paranoid as millions of their citizens are Islamized and Turkified Greeks and Armenians, even if their own people do not know this fact yet.

A famous case is Yannis Vasilis Yaylalı, born Ibrahim Yaylalı. Yannis is a former Turkish ultra-nationalist who was proud of his enmity to Kurds, not to mention to other indigenous peoples of Asia Minor. However he soon discovered he was actually Greek, became Christian and then became an activist for minorities in Turkey despite originally joining the Turkish Army to kill them, as reported by The Armenian Weekly.

It is also becoming a trend for Turks in the diaspora to do DNA tests and post their results on YouTube. Many of them become “shocked” to find out that their DNA is 50% Greek or more.

 

 

It is for this reason that home genetic testing is banned in Turkey – they do not want millions of people discovering they are Islamized and Turkified Greeks and Armenians.

Despite not wanting millions in Turkey to discover they are Greek or Armenian, it is still common for Turkish politicians to accuse their opposition of being crypto-Greeks or Armenians, an acknowledgement in itself that the Turkish state knows millions of their citizens are Turkified Greeks and Armenians.

Last year, Ekrem İmamoğlu became mayor of Constantinople, the first time in over 20 years that an ally of Erdoğan was not mayor of the city. What was Erdoğan’s response to İmamoğlu’s victory? “Who were most happy with the elections of March 31? The Greeks. Do you remember the front pages of Greek newspapers saying that ‘a Greek conquered the City’?”

İmamoğlu is from Pontus, and it has been suggested that he is one of the millions of Islamised and Turkified Greeks in Turkey.

However, despite the attempts to destroy Greek language and culture in Turkey, many Muslims have held onto their identity, culture and language, as reported by Greek City Times in a must read interview. And it is these very people that Erdoğan fears will reconnect with their Greek roots.

Turkish researchers have even suggested that Erdoğan, whose ancestry is from Pontus, is Greek himself. His ancestry comes from Potamia (Ποταμιὰ, Turkish: Güneysu) and Erdoğan in the past has even returned to the village where signs that welcomed him would say Potamia and not Güneysu.

Turkish historian Cezmi Yurtsever found in Ottoman tax records details of Erdoğan’s grandfather, who was the head of a guerrilla group of Greeks in Pontus who fought against the Ottomans. Erdoğan’s grandfather’s epithet was Bakedoglu Memis and the tax records wrote the word ‘Islamized’ next to his name and in another column had his new Islamic name.

In a 2011 interview with NTV, the Turkish President said he is and feels like a Turk and will take journalists and historians who call him Greek to court.

Erdoğan had even admitted in an interview that when he use to ask his father if they were Turks, his father would say “Look, your grandfather told me that when we die and go to heaven, they will ask us what God you believe, who your prophet is and what your religion is. They will not ask us of our ethnic origins,” in a clear demonstration that they did not want to openly acknowledge they were Islamized and Turkified Greeks.

 

https://greekcitytim...-greek-himself/

[Yervant1]

BIAet, Turkey (Human Rights related news)

May 9 2020

 

 

Armenian Church Attacked in İstanbul

 

A suspect related to the attack has been detained, said the governor's office.

İstanbul - BIA News Desk 09 May 2020, Saturday 20:55

Dznunt Surp Asdvadzadzni Church in Bakırköy, İstanbul, was attacked yesterday (May 8) as one perpetrator reportedly attempted to set the church's gate on fire.

The Armenian Patriarchate of İstanbul stated that it notified the police of the attack. While the suspect ran away, no casualties or material damage was caused by the attack, it added, as reported by Agos, a weekly newspaper in Turkish and Armenian.

"İstanbul Deputy Security Director contacted our Patriarchate and expressed his sadness and stated that the perpetrator would be caught as soon as possible," the statement said.

İstanbul Governor's Office announced that a suspect named M.K. was rounded up by the police and an investigation about the incident was going on.

Minorities in Turkey, such as Armenians, Rums and Syriacs, as well as their places of worship, are occasionally targeted in hate attacks.

The church in Cevizlik Neighborhood in İstanbul's European district of Bakırköy was built in 1844. (RT/VK)

http://bianet.org/en...ked-in-istanbul

[MosJan]

Այդ «սրից փրկվածները» դեռ կան․ Էրդողանը գռեհիկ է արտահայտվել հույների և հայերի հասցեին

 

https://m.armeniaspu...ZrtU2q3aMopJRlU

 

(Թարմացված է 12:00 12.05.2020)

Երբ երկրիդ տնտեսությունն անկում է ապրում, իսկ կորոնավիրուսը տարածվում է, ամեն ինչի համար ծպտված հայերին ու հույներին մեղադրելուց լավ բան չկա։ Երբ ասում են, թե Էրդողանը հույն է, նրա մոտ կատաղության նոպա է սկսվում։
ԵՐԵՎԱՆ, 11 մայիսի – Sputnik․ Մի քանի օր առաջ Թուրքիայի նախագահ Ռեջեփ Թայիփ Էրդողանը կրկին խոսել է հույների և հայերի մասին՝ նրանց անվանելով «սրից փրկվածներ»։

 

Իր վերջին ելույթներից մեկի ժամանակ նա հայտարարել է․ «Մենք թույլ չենք տա, որ այդ սրից փրկվածներն ու ահաբեկիչները նորից ապստամբեն։ Նրանք մինչև հիմա դեռ կան, չնայած մեր երկրում նրանց թիվը բավական քչացել է»։

Հնարավոր է, որ նա նկատի ուներ քրդերին, բայց առաջին անգամը չէ, որ հայերն ու հույները նման ակնարկներ են լսում։ Այդ պատճառով Մեջլիսի հայազգի պատգամավոր Կարո Փայլանը խստորեն քննադատել է Էրդողանին։ Թուրքիայի առաջնորդի հայտարարություններին անդրադարձել է նաև հունական Greek City Times պարբերականը։

Այս բոլոր խնդիրները Էրդողանը փորձված ձևով է լուծում․ ամեն ինչում մեղադրում է ծպտված հայերին և հույներին։

«Թուրքիան վախենում է, որ իր միլիոնավոր քաղաքացիներ մահմեդականացած և թրքացած հույներ ու հայեր են, անգամ եթե նրանք իրենք էլ այդ մասին չգիտեն»,-գրում է պարբերականը։
Էրդողանի արկածախնդիր գործողությունները Հունաստանի սահմանին, ինչպես նաև Սիրիայում և Լիբանանում մեծ փողեր պահանջեցին, բայց այդպես էլ արդյունք չտվեցին։ Համաշխարհային բանկի տվյալներով՝ Թուրքիայում դեռ կորոնավիրուսից առաջ գործազրկությունը կազմում էր 14%։

[Yervant1]

Greek City Times

May 12 2020

 

 

Erdogan vows to fight Greek & Armenian lobbies by Paul Antonopoulos

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is in a state of shock after the joint declaration by the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France and the United Arab Emirates, condemned Turkey’s illegal attempted drilling in Cypriot waters, violations of Greek airspace, instrumentalisation of illegal immigrants and backing the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya, as reported by Greek City Times.

In response to the joint declaration, Erdoğan said “we will continue to defend our interests and rights in the Aegean, the Mediterranean and Cyprus until the end.”

He then took aim at not only the Armenian and Greek lobbies in their diaspora communities, but also the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Fethullah Gülen’s movement known as FETO. Gülen is in self-exile from Turkey to the United States and the once ally of Erdoğan is now his harshest critic and is blamed for the 2016 coup attempt against the Turkish president.

“We will not leave the field to either the PKK or FETO, nor to the Armenian and Greek lobbies, nor to the enemy forces, nor to the forces of evil that originate from Gulf countries,” Erdoğan said.

His statement comes as Turkey faces a major economic catastrophe that could see its three biggest banks collapse and the Turkish lira continue to tumble.

In addition, Turkey is becoming increasingly isolated in the region, as its sole ally in the Eastern Mediterranean is the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya who are on the verge of collapse under pressure of the Greek-friendly Libyan National Army. The Muslim Brotherhood only control a portion of the capital city of Libya and the city of Misrata that is a center of jihadism and the Turkish minority in the country.

Meanwhile Greece has strong relations with the Libyan National Army, whose many top leaders trained at Greek military schools. Greece also strong relations with Cyprus, Egypt, Israel and has recently renewed its ties with Syria, showing that Greece has many friends and allies in a region that is becoming lonely and isolated for Turkey.

The Treaty of Sèvres haunts Turkey as it is paranoid that it could come to fruition, meaning Constantinople and Smyrna would be a part of Greece, an independent Kurdistan would exist, Syria would once again control Iskenderun that Turkey now calls “Hatay province,” and Armenia would control Pontus and large areas of eastern Anatolia – effectively severing Turkey to a much more reduced state.

 

The treaty was signed on the 10th August 1920, in the aftermath of World War I by the Central and Allied Powers. The Treaty was renegotiated at the end of the Greco-Turkish War with the Treaty of Lausanne and the Treaty of Kars that reversed the Treaty of Sèvres.

However, a 1998 cable titled “The Turks on the Kurds: Getting the message right,” released by the U.S. State Department in 2014 found that “Turkish officials and members of the social/political elite are especially sensitive to statements of actions which they interpret as resurrecting the 1920 Treaty of Sevres and its explicit efforts to partition Turkey in favour of Kurds, Greeks, Armenians, the French and the British.”

 

The Turks, according to the cable, believe that any Kurdish succession from Turkey can see the rest of the country dismantle with Greeks, Syrians and Armenians reclaiming their historical homeland.

As the Greeks and Armenians have powerful lobbies in their diaspora communities, there is little doubt that Erdoğan is paranoid that these lobbies can begin pushing for the Treaty of Sèvres to be reinstated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://greekcitytim...menian-lobbies/

[Yervant1]

It looks ErDOGan is losing his marbles, sooner the better! 

Asia Times, Italy

May 12 2020

 

 

 

Patriarch Bartholomew, the rabbi, and group of Armenians accused of supporting 'the arch-terrorist' Fethullah Gülen

by NAT da Polis

The charge is published in journal close to President Erdogan.  John Paul II, the former Armenian patriarch of Turkey Snork Kaloustian, Hillary Clinton and some already deceased Turkish politicians also accused. Phanar points to risk that such reporting "could spark dangerous acts of racism and intolerance". The Jewish community: "Unfounded accusations ... in a publication of hatred".

 

Istanbul (AsiaNews) - The ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew; the chief rabbi of Istanbul, Isahak Kahleva; some members of the Armenian community are being described as collaborators of the Fethullah Gülen movement, the imam exiled in the United States since 1999, for opposing the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The accusation is contained in a special 176-page edition of the Turkish Islamist magazine "Gerçek Hayat", which belongs to the editorial group of the pro-government newspaper "Yeni Safak", owned by the family of the Turkish president’s son-in-law.

In the special edition, entitled "Fetus", the long history of the movement of Fethullah Gülen, defined as "arch-terrorist" is traced with religious minorities in Turkey and their leaders targeted and accused of having supported the failed coup d'état of 16 July 2016 against President Erdogan.

In addition to Patriarch Bartholomew and Rabbi Isahak Kahleva, Pope John Paul II, the former Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Snork Kaloustian, as well as Hillary Clinton and already deceased Turkish politicians such as Ismet Inonu, Bulent Ecevit and Suleyman Demirel are also named and branded.

The Phanar and the Jewish community in Istanbul. In its release, the Ecumenical Patriarchate states that the information reported in the magazine, which targets religious leaders and members of minorities, "is completely false and biased."

"The publication of these claims - continues the patriarchal communiqué - cause distress among Christians, Jews and Muslims and are particularly serious and irresponsible, because they undermine the unity of our people".

Unfortunately, continues the Phanar statement, “such information is extremely dangerous and could be the cause of dangerous acts of racism and intolerance. The same ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew feels very bitter and resentful for the accusations that have been made against him, despite his efforts for the good of our country ".

"Therefore - concludes the statement - we are convinced that the competent Turkish authorities will do justice".

The Turkish Jewish community in Istanbul intervened with a post on its Twitter account, stating: "We condemn the discrimination and provocation caused by these publications, with baseless accusations against our chief rabbi. These hate publications are damaging Turkey. For our part, we hope for an immediate restoration of the truth against these publications of hate - through correct information and legal means - as they influence our Turkey, of which we are an integral part. "

Disinformation and campaigns have occurred very frequently in the history of Turkey, both Ottoman and republican. According to Mihail Vassiliadis, director of the historical Turkish newspaper in Greek, "Apgevmatini", a new fact is emerging: for the first time, non-Muslim minorities have expressed themselves and protested openly, making it clear that they will not accept abuses such as in the past.

 

http://www.asianews....

 

 

 

 

[Yervant1]

Public Radio of Armenia

May 12 2020

 

 

Garo Paylan raises the issue of attack on Armenian church with Turkish Interior Minister

 

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan has submitted a parliamentary question regarding the attempted attack against the Dznunt Surp Asdvadzadzni Church in Bakirkoy, Istanbul on May 8, Bianet reports.

On that night, a person attempted to set the Armenian church’s gate on fire. Releasing a statement about the incident later on, the Governor’s Office of Istanbul announced that a suspect named M.K. was detained in relation with the incident and the investigation was ongoing.

Bringing this issue into Parliamentary agenda, Paylan has addressed a Parliamentary question to Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu.

The MP has reminded the minister of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech on May 4, when he uttered the words “leftover of the sword,” which is a derogatory _expression_ used for the survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

Within this context, Paylan has asked Soylu whether this hate speech has any role in the attack that targeted the Armenian church in Bakırköy.

In his speech on May 4, President and AKP Chair Erdogan stated, “Even though they are now very few in number, we don’t let the pursuits of terrorists that are leftovers of the sword…”

Paylan has briefly stated the following in his Parliamentary question:

“On May 8, a hate attack was committed against the Armenian Church in Bakirkoy, Istanbul by its gate being set on fire. It has been reported in the press that after the suspect who launched the hate attack was caught, he said, ‘I burned it because they caused the coronavirus to plague us.’

“Recurring hate attacks are recently launched against churches in Bakirkoy and other districts. Discriminatory remarks and hate speech were written on the walls of places of worship. There were attempted armed attacks.”

Paylan has asked the following questions to Interior Minister Soylu:

“Do you think that the hate speech used by the President such as ‘leftovers of the sword’ plays any role in the hate attacks targeting minorities’ places of worship?

“What kind of precautions do you take to ensure the security of minorities’ places of worship, which are frequently subjected to attacks?

“I am of the opinion that these hate attacks are directed by visible and invisible groups within the state, as it was the case in the past. Can you easily say the opposite?”

 

https://en.armradio....erior-minister/

 

 

 

[Yervant1]

Anytime the Turkish leadership is in trouble, they bring the usual boogieman (ethnics) in order to deflect peoples attention from the real issues! 

Arminfo, Armenia

May 12 2020

 

 

Erdogan called the Armenian lobby an evil that Turkey intends to  confront

ArmInfo.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his address by TV following a meeting of the country's Cabinet of Ministers announced the actions of the  authorities to counter the consequences of the new type of  coronavirus pandemic.

In his speech, the Turkish leader also touched upon attempts at  economic and other pressure on Turkey. According to him, Ankara is  "well aware of the insidious goals behind the" traps "for the economy  of the country.

"We will continue to reflect threats and aggression directed against  our borders. Terrorist organizations hostile to Turkey's forces will  be defeated in their lairs. Turkey will fully defend its interests in  the Mediterranean, Cyprus and the Aegean. We will not give up before  the forces of evil, either FETO, the RKK, the Armenian and Greek  lobbies, or centers of hostility in the Persian Gulf, " Anadolu cites  the Turkish leader  as saying.

https://arminfo.info...id=51820&lang=3

 

 

[Yervant1]

Gatestone Institute

May 13 2020

 

 

Turkey: Erdogan's "Leftovers of the Sword"

by Uzay Bulut
May 13, 2020 at 4:00 am

https://www.gateston...rs-of-the-sword

     

• "Leftover of the sword" (kılıç artığı in Turkish) is a commonly used insult in Turkey that often refers to the survivors of the Christian massacres that mainly targeted Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians in the Ottoman Empire and its successor, Turkey.

• The use of "leftovers of the sword," therefore, does not represent a denial of massacres or genocides. On the contrary, it declares the pride of the perpetrators. It means: "Yes, we slaughtered Christians and other non-Muslims because they deserved it!"

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's public use of the insult "the leftovers of the sword" in referring to survivors of the massacres of Christians in his country is alarming on many levels. The phrase not only insults the victims and the survivors of the massacres but also endangers the safety of Turkey's dwindling Christian community, who are often exposed to pressures that include physical attacks. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

 

During a coronavirus briefing on May 4, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used a most derogatory phrase "the leftovers of the sword".

"We do not allow terrorist leftovers of the sword in our country," he said, "to attempt to carry out [terrorist] activities. Their number has decreased a lot but they still exist."

"Leftover of the sword" (kılıç artığı in Turkish) is a commonly used insult in Turkey that often refers to the survivors of the Christian massacres that mainly targeted Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians in the Ottoman Empire and its successor, Turkey.

As the head of state, Erdoğan using the phrase publicly is alarming on many levels. The phrase not only insults the victims and the survivors of the massacres but also endangers the safety of Turkey's dwindling Christian community, who are often exposed to pressures that include physical attacks.

In protest, Garo Paylan, an Armenian MP in Turkey's parliament, wrote on Facebook:

"In his hateful speech last night, Erdoğan once again used the phrase 'leftover of the sword.'

"'Leftover of the sword' was invented to refer to orphans like my grandmother who survived the [1915] Armenian genocide. Every time we hear that phrase, it makes our wounds bleed."

Other Armenian activists and writers on social media also criticized Erdoğan. Journalist Aline Ozinian wrote:

"For those who don't know 'terrorist leftover of the sword' means Armenian 'terrorists' who survived the genocide and could not be butchered via the sword. What does 'terrorist' mean? Well, it changes daily: It could be a journalist, a civil society representative, a writer, a doctor or a mother of a beautiful child."

"They do not want those who held the swords," she continued, "but the grandchildren of the survivors of a people and culture that were slaughtered by the sword to be ashamed."

The columnist Ohannes Kılıçdağı wrote:

"Think about a country that actively uses a phrase like 'leftover of the sword' in the political culture and language. It is used by the highest authorities. But the same authorities of the same country claim that 'there is no massacre in our history'. If there is not, then where does this phrase come from? Who does it refer to?"

The crimes that Turkey attempts to hide by blaming the victims are actually well-documented historical facts. In 2019, for instance, historians Professor Benny Morris and Dror Ze'evi published a book, The Thirty-Year Genocide: Turkey's Destruction of Its Christian Minorities, 1894–1924, describing "the giant massacres perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire, and then the Turkish Republic, against their Christian minorities." According to their research:

"Between 1894 and 1924, three waves of violence swept across Anatolia, targeting the region's Christian minorities, who had previously accounted for 20 percent of the population. By 1924, the Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks had been reduced to 2 percent".

During the genocide, the perpetrators' annihilationist policies included "premeditated mass killing, homicidal deportation, forced conversion, mass rape, and brutal abduction. And one thing more was a constant: the rallying cry of jihad."

Like the Christians, the Alevi community too is targeted in Turkey for being "leftovers of the sword". Erdoğan's ally, Devlet Bahçeli, the head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), for instance, called the journalist Abdülkadir Selvi "a leftover of the sword" in 2017 to refer to his alleged Alevi roots. Pro-government journalist Ahmet Taşgetiren then described the phrase as follows:

"You wipe out an entity (a society, a religious community, an army) that you view as 'the enemy'. What is left is a group of people who have survived the swords and surrendered to you. Those are the leftovers of the sword."

Selvi then tried to explain why he is not a "leftover of the sword':

"I would like to remind Bahçeli: My grandfather, Osman, was a son of the homeland that ran from one frontline to the other and was taken prisoner in the Ottoman-Russian war. I'm a grandchild of Oghuz Turks; my ancestors, Hasan and Hüseyin, became martyrs in Yemen. This honor is enough for me."

Selvi's explanation once again demonstrates that having Christian, Alevi or any other non-Muslim roots is seen as an insult or a disgraceful offense by many in Turkey. Instead of explaining why calling someone "a leftover of the sword" is unacceptable, Selvi tried to prove his "purebred" Turkish origins and Sunni Muslim faith.

"Today, less than half a percent of Turkey's population is Christian -- the result of a history throughout which Turks persecuted the region's indigenous Christians," wrote historian Dr. Vasileios Meichanetsidis.

"Many Turks still proudly endorse this history, with no attempt to face it honestly, or secure respect for the victims. In fact, they falsely label the victims as perpetrators, praise the criminals and insult the memory of the victims and their descendants."

The use of "leftovers of the sword," therefore, does not represent a denial of massacres or genocides. On the contrary, it declares the pride of the perpetrators. It means: "Yes, we slaughtered Christians and other non-Muslims because they deserved it!"

Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist, is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

 

 

 

https://www.gateston...rs-of-the-sword

[Yervant1]

Turmoil in Turkey on Letter by Gulen

            Recognizing the Armenian Genocide

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

A major controversy erupted in Turkey last week after a pro-Erdogan
Turkish Islamist magazine “Gercek Hayat” (Real Life) claimed that the
controversial Turkish Imam Fethullah Gulen had written a letter on May
6, 1965 acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. The letter is included in
a special 176-page edition of the magazine which belongs to the
editorial group of the pro-government newspaper “Yeni Safak,” owned by
the family of the Turkish president’s son-in-law.

Gercek Hayat’s article also accused of collaborating with Gulen, the
Chief Rabbi of Istanbul Isahak Kahleva, Greek Orthodox Patriarch
Bartholomew, former Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Shnorhk Kaloustian,
the CIA, NATO, Zionists, Hillary Clinton, Pope John Paul II, and
former Turkish leaders Ismet Inonu, Bulent Ecevit and Suleyman
Demirel.

Gulen escaped to the United States in 1999. Later on, he and President
Erdogan became antagonists after a lengthy collaboration during which
Erdogan had used Gulen’s contacts and resources to come to power. In
2016, after the attempted coup d’état in Turkey, Erdogan accused Gulen
of being the mastermind of the coup. Erdogan jailed and fired tens of
thousands of Gulen’s followers. Since then Erdogan has made repeated
requests to the U.S. Government to have Gulen extradited to Turkey,
where he faces certain death. The United States rejected Erdogan’s
requests. Even those accused of associating with Gulen, who were
living outside of Turkey, were kidnapped by Erdogan’s secret agents
and brought back to Turkey to face harsh charges.

Under these circumstances, when a pro-Erdogan magazine accused the
leaders of religious minorities and others in Turkey of associating
with Gulen, they became rightly concerned about their physical
well-being and possible attacks on their religious and cultural
institutions.

Regarding Gulen’s letter, published by the Turkish magazine, addressed
to the former Armenian Patriarch, it has been published several times
before by the Turkish media.

Here are excerpts of Gulen’s May 6, 1965 letter: “I have known
Armenian families and individuals during my childhood and working
positions. I will not stop cursing the Great Genocide committed
against Armenians in 1915. I know that among the people killed and
massacred were many highly respected individuals, for whose memory I
bow with respect. I curse with great grief the massacre of the sons of
the Great Prophet Christ by ignorant individuals who call themselves
Muslims.”

The Turkish magazine reported that in response Shnorhk Patriarch
thanked Gulen, stating that the country needs preachers like him: “We
believe that the fraternal ties will remain intact in our sacred
country where there are valuable and fair-minded preachers like you.”

Gulen’s purported 1965 letter is typed on a paper that appears
yellowish, making it look authentic. In 2013, while in the U.S., Gulen
issued another statement which said: “The Ittihadists committed the
wrong policy. It is up to us to correct the wrong policy of the
Ittihadists. That is why we should be in a very good dialog with
Armenians and other nations. For the sake of a dialog, we should use
every opportunity in the best possible way.”

The good news is that the religious leaders of minority communities in
Turkey had the courage to harshly criticize the Turkish magazine. The
Armenian Patriarchate issued a statement in which it “regretted the
false accusations against Shnorhk Patriarch. Such writings under the
umbrella of freedom of the press cause pain to us and can lead to
horrible consequences. These falsehoods are worrisome to the Armenian
Patriarchate of Turkey and the Armenian community. Racist
manifestations, as elsewhere, also seen in this country, make it
impossible to escape from their consequences…. Such baseless
mud-slinging is unacceptable to us. We believe that the relevant
authorities will stop this injustice and hope that the rules will be
enforced, taking the necessary steps against the authors.”

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate also condemned the Turkish magazine
calling the published information “completely false and biased…. The
publication of these claims cause distress among Christians, Jews and
Muslims and are particularly serious and irresponsible, because they
undermine the unity of our people…. Such information is extremely
dangerous and could be the cause of dangerous acts of racism and
intolerance. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew feels very bitter
and resentful for the accusations that have been made against him,
despite his efforts for the good of our country.”

The Jewish community in Istanbul also criticized the Turkish magazine:
“We condemn the discrimination and provocation caused by these
publications, with baseless accusations against our Chief Rabbi. These
hate publications are damaging Turkey. For our part, we hope for an
immediate restoration of the truth against these publications of
hate—through correct information and legal means—as they influence our
Turkey, of which we are an integral part.”

Meanwhile, the Armenian member of the Turkish Parliament, Garo Paylan,
referred the controversy to the Parliament by writing to the Vice
President of the country, Fuat Oktay: “Can’t the expressions of hatred
used periodically by the news media close to the Turkish President
result in crimes based on hatred?”

I would like to conclude with three key points:

1) Fethullah Gulen was the ally of Erdogan before the latter asserted
his dictatorial powers. The publications close to Erdogan, rather than
blaming the leaders of minority religions and others, should first of
all blame Erdogan for his long years of association with Gulen.

2) If Gulen’s letter is authentic, he has done nothing wrong. He has
simply acknowledged the truth about the Armenian Genocide. Erdogan is
the one to be blamed for lying about the Armenian Genocide.

3) The minority communities in Turkey are terrified by the article in
the Turkish magazine because they know that there are plenty of
extremists in Turkey who will resort to horrible acts of violence
against Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks, Jews and Kurds. Their fear is
justified. These minority community leaders should be commended for
boldly speaking out against the threatening article in the Turkish
magazine.

[Yervant1]

Public Radio of Armenia

May 27 2020

 

 

Armenian church in Istanbul attacked, cross ripped off

 

The Surp Grigor Lusavorich  (St. Gregory the Illuminator) Armenian Church in Istanbul’s Scutari district has been attacked, Ermenihaber.am reports.

According to the source, on May 23, an unknown person brutally ripped off a cross from the church door. The moment of the attack was caught on cameras.

The church leadership has issued a statement on the incident, noting that a complaint has been filed with the police.

A new cross has been placed on the gate.

The incident comes weeks after an attack on an Armenian church in Istanbul’s Bakirkoy district.

https://en.armradio....oss-ripped-off/

 

[Yervant1]

AsiaNews, Italy

May 28 2020

 

 

Man rips cross from Armenian church in latest attack against Christian sites in Istanbul

Last Saturday, a man attacked the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Galata, Istanbul’s oldest Armenian Apostolic church. For an Armenian member of the Turkish parliament, attacks against Christian places of worship continue. Hate speech by those in power is normalising criminal behaviour. Earlier this month, the door of another Armenian church was set on fire.

 

Istanbul (AsiaNews) – Another church has been attacked amid growing hostility towards Christians in Turkey, which includes arrests, mysterious disappearances, unresolved deaths and a policy of rights violations.

Last Saturday, an unknown man (pictured) ripped the cross from the gate of the Armenian Surp Krikor Lusaroviç (Saint Gregory the Illuminator) Church in Kuzguncuk district, on the Asian side of Istanbul.

The police opened a file against persons unknown, saying that they wanted to shed light on the incident, the Agos weekly reported.

However, since then there have been no further developments despite the fact that the attacker was caught on camera.

In the meantime, church officials have taken steps to repair the damage replacing the old cross with a new one.

The latest attack against a Christian target reflects a growing climate of hostility and repression towards minority groups in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Acts of violence and abuse fit with the president’s policy of ‘nationalism and Islam,’ as evinced by the controversy over Hagia Sophia.

Garo Paylan, an Armenian member of the Turkish parliament for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP)[*] tweeted that “Attacks continue on our churches. The cross of our Surp Krikor Lusaroviç Armenian Church was removed and thrown away. Hate speech by the ruling power normalizes hate crimes."

The CCTV footage captured the attack. Around 7.20 pm, a man is seen looking at the security cameras for a while, perhaps in an act of defiance, and then remove the cross, noted Edvart Ayvazyan, head of the church foundation, speaking to Bianet, an independent Istanbul-based Turkish press agency.

The local Security Bureau is working on the incident but without any result so far.

Less than three weeks ago the Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church was attacked. The church is located near the offices of the Armenian patriarchate of Constantinople, near the Bakırköy district, on the European side of Istanbul.

On 8 May, a man tried to set fire to the door of the building, but was arrested by police.

[*] Halkların Demokratik Partisi (HDP) in Turkish; Partiya Demokratîk a Gelan (PDG) in Kurdish; also known in English as the Democratic Party of the Peoples.

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