UYGAR GÜLTEKIN

A selfie of three friends, Ezgi Sadet, Polen Ünlü and Dilan, taken at the celebrations in Bakırköy following HDP’s success in the general election when it won 80 seats in parliament, has become widely shared on social media following the Suruç Massacre.

Still, no official step has been taken for the return of Kamp Armen to its rightful owner. Although current property owner Fatih Ulusoy announced he would return the deed, the official procedure that needs to be carried out at the deed registry was not completed this week either.

Last night an arson attack took place on the Aya Triada Church in Kadıköy.

Despite repeated promises for the return of Kamp Armen, the official handover has not taken place yet. The current owner of the camp, Fatih Ulusoy, has stated that the procedures are continuing, and that the return will take place next week. The postponement of the return of the camp to after the election has increased concern, and calls have been made for the immediate finalization of the process.

The process for the return of Kamp Armen has reached the final stage, however, the necessary procedures have not been fulfilled. Official procedures need to be completed for the deed to be registered under the foundation’s name.

While reactions to the demolition of Camp Armen mount, and the vigil at the camp site against demolition continues, attempts for a solution have also begun. The matter is on the government’s agenda, and AKP parliamentary candidate Markar Esayan has stated that he has spoken with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on the issue, and that has work towards a solution has begun. The Armenian community is hopeful yet cautious. The demand is not for expropriation but for the return of the camp deed to the Church Foundation.

The Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, the second largest centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has formally applied to the Constitutional Court of Turkey for the return of its properties in Sis (Kozan). The Catholicosate has demanded the return of its identified properties, and in the event of failure of identification, the payment of 100 Million TL compensation. This also constitutes the first instance where a case on the seizure of properties by the State will be ruled by the Constitutional Court.

The Gedikpaşa Armenian Protestant Church and volunteer lawyers are initiating a legal campaign for the return of the camp, or compensation for losses. A new appeal will be made for the amendment of the decision for the cancellation of the sale, and the prevention of the demolition planned for the end of May.

Lawyer Hakan Bakırcıoğlu assessed the most recent state of the Hrant Dink murder investigation for Agos following former Intelligence Branch Chief Ramazan Akyürek’s arrest: “There are many public officials which should be indicted for premeditated murder. The Dink murder is a murder carried out by consensus, and parties to this consensus share total and collective responsibility. Ramazan Akyürek is only one of the public officials who played a significant role in this murder.”

The race code procedure implemented by the Ministry of National Education for student registration at non-Muslim schools has been subject to another lawsuit.