Photo: Zafer (Victory in Turkish) is a Turk. He fights with the Armenians to save the orphanage Armen Camp. “Yes, I am a young Turkish and I participate in this event because I do not want to be crushed under the shame”
Armen Camp, the former orphanage foundation of the Armenian Protestant Church Gedik Pacha – on the outskirts of Tuzla in the far east of Istanbul – is in danger of destruction. It was built in 1963, in part through the efforts of orphans. The orphanage building, abandoned since the 1980s after being usurped by the Turkish state was under the yoke excavators since May 6, destroying part of the building until the intervention of Garabet ( Garo) Paylan, a parliamentary candidate for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) of Armenian origin, and a former resident of the orphanage Garabet Orunöz.
The two men were able to convince the foreman, explaining that Hrant Dink and Raquel, who lived here, had their memories, as well as other people, including a deputy. Hrant Dink had become, himself one of the counselors.
In the wake of the coup of 1980, the founder and director of the orphanage, the ecclesiastical Hrant Güzelyan, was accused of raising the Armenians, which led to his being tortured.
Listed on several occasions, the plot is now up to M.Fatih Ulusoy. The latter has agreed to halt the demolition for now, and is open to negotiations for a solution that would not lose the monetary value of its investment.
Since then, Armen Camp is busy day and night by Armenian militants and Turkish Nor Zartonk who lived there. A banner was displayed with the inscription “Armenians, welcome to Camp Armen”. Another says “The Camp Armen should return to Armenians”.
Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) wrote to the President, Prime Minister and the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey USA asking for their response and support.
In the letters, Zaven Khanjian, Executive Director / CEO of the AMAA, requested that Turkish leaders are seriously considering intervention and immediate resolution to avoid further demolition of the historically significant Camp and for the return of the property its rightful owners, the Armenian Evangelical Church of Gedik Pasha in Istanbul.
Yesterday, 22 May, an important manifestation of protest and against Holocaust denial was held in Pera (Beyoglu). The journalist of Armenian origin Raffi Hermon Araks notes that it has participated in this event because as the young Zafer he “did not want to be crushed under the shame.”
Jean Eckian © armenews.com