AKHTAMAR ARMENIAN CHURCH ON TURKISH PARLIAMENT’S AGENDA
Tert
Nov 6 2009
Armenia
Democratic Society Party (DTP) Van Deputy Ozdal Ucer brought to
Turkey’s parliamentary agenda the issue that certain Armenian,
Assyrian and Chaldean religious sites especially in Van were used as
barns and military sites, and that it was forbidden to put a cross on
the dome of the Sourp Khatch Church on Akhtamar Island. The member
of parliament demanded preservation of these structures within the
context of preserving ‘cultural wealth.’
MP Ucer expressed to the parliament his contempt at the intolerance
against religious minorities’ places of worship and at the careless
restoration works with destructive consequences. Submitting a question
motion to be answered by Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertıugrul
Gunay, Ucer said a disrespectful attitude was apparent in places of
worship belonging to Armenian, Assyrian and Chaldean peoples in Van
and the surrounding area, reminding parliamentarians that the Red
Church in Van’s BaÅ~_kale town was used as a barn and the church in
Albayrak village as a military site.
Though the Sourp Khatch Armenian Church in Akhtamar Island was
restored, according to the parliamentarian, worship was prohibited
there, the restoration was not performed in accordance with the
original form, and a cross was still not put on the church dome.
Noting that the Sourp Khatch Armenian Church in Akhtamar Island was
allowed to be used as place of worship, Ucer said this situation
conflicted with the state officials’ statements which follow that
"Our diversity is our wealth."
Ucer asked the following questions to be answered by the Ministry of
Culture and Tourism: "How many churches are there within the borders
of Van province? What kind of studies are conducted relating to them?
Is there an ongoing study in accordance with the original of the
Akhtamar Church? Is there any study to open the said church to
worship? Are other churches in the city subjected to any kind of
restoration?"