Article Title:
Passions Over St. Giragos: Turkish government decision to expropriate Armenian church sparks controversy
Teaser:
The Turkish government has decided to expropriate 6,300 structures and plots of land in the Sur district of Diyarbakir (one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey), which includes St. Giragos Armenian church, one of the largest churches in the Middle East that belongs to the Armenian community. The decision caused concerns and anxiety among Armenians living in different parts of the world. In 2011, through their donations, St. Giragos was reopened and consecrated.
Answering the Turkey-based Armenian Agos newspaper’s questions, Adnan Ertem, the General Directorate for Foundations Director, said: “This expropriation decision is not about historical structures or civil architecture. We want to preserve them.”
read more