Protesters demanding return of an Armenian orphanage held an action in Tuzla district of Istanbul.
The march was attended by 500 people, among them two MPs from Republican People’s Party, Bir Gun reported.
MP Baris Yarkadis said the authorities tried to make an impression that the building will be transferred to Armenians, but now it is clear they want to take it away to divide between themselves.
Camp Armen Armenian orphanage was confiscated by the Turkish authorities back in 1987. Subsequently, it was sold to a Turkish businessman who, in turn, decided to demolish the orphanage and build luxury homes in the premises. As a result of public pressure, however, the demolition of the orphanage has been temporarily halted.
The camp was once home to around 1,500 Armenian children, including the late Hrant Dink—the founder and chief editor of Agos Armenian bilingual weekly of Istanbul, and who was shot dead on January 19, 2007 outside the office of his weekly—, and his wife Rakel.