NEWS

While child abuse is currently on the agenda of Turkey, another report about child abuse came from Jerusalem. With the child abuse happened in early '90s, Jarankavorats Armenian School in Jerusalem drew attention.

The debates that started after the urgent expropriation decision, which involves the churches in Diyarbakir, made the history of Sur, Suriçi a current issue. Having an important role in the history of Anatolian Armenians and Christians, Diyarbakir, and especially Suriçi, have been at the center of such practices throughout its history. Zakarya Mildanoğlu tells about the story of Suriçi churches and the expropriation history of Diyarbakir.

The expropriation decision made by the cabinet in Sur province of Diyarbakir caused disquiet. Stating that the cabinet should correct this decision, Archbishop Aram Ateşyan said that they demanded a meeting with Minister of Environment Sarı. Lawyer of Surg Giragos Church Ali Elbeyoğlu said, “The execution of this decision shouldn't be under the initiative of the government. We will appeal this decision. The decision of the cabinet should be corrected by the cabinet itself.”

Prof. Dr. Baskın Oran filed a claim for compensation against President Erdoğan, because of his statements about the academics who signed the declaration titled as “We won't be accomplices to this crime”. Oran is one of the signees.

Can Dündar and Erdem Gül stand trial today because of their journalism activities. President Erdoğan and Turkish intelligence office (MİT) became the intervening parties. A confidentiality order is imposed on the case.

Statements are started to be taken as part of the lawsuit that was opened against public officials who have responsibility in Hrant Dink's murder. Former Chief of Istanbul Intelligence Branch Sabri Uzun, who were in office at the time of the murder, gave a statement in Ankara 2nd High Penal Court upon the order of İstanbul 14th High Penal Court. Uzun claimed that he wasn't informed about the intelligence reports that contains information about the plans for murdering Hrant Dink.

CHP MP Selina Doğan tabled a parliamentary question addressed to Ministry of Internal Affairs, but hasn't received a response. After that, she applied to General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs. She demanded to know how many of non-Muslims there are in Turkey, given there is race code procedure. The Directorate replied that they cannot give any answer to that question, since there is no procedure like race code.

Armenian society is also nervous about the recent suicide attacks. The Patriarchate made a statement to Agos about the rumors concerning the Easter that will be celebrated on next Sunday.

Named after Aurora Mardiganian, who witnessed the killing of her relatives in 1915 Armenian Genocide and survived the massacre miraculously, Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity will be given for the first time.

In Azerbaijan, there has been a campaign against human rights lawyer Amal Clooney.