Armenischer Friedhof (Pangaltı)
Vorlage:Infobox cemetery The Pangaltı Armenian Cemetery was an Armenian cemetery located in the Pangaltı district of Istanbul near Taksim Square. The cemetery belonged to the Surp Agop Armenian Hospital.[1] In the 1930s, the cemetery was demolished and was replaced with the Divan Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Harbiye Military Museum, Hyatt Regency Hotel, and the TRT Radio Buildings.[2][3][4] The cemetery itself was used for the construction of the Inonu Gezisi (todays Taksim Gezi Park)[5][6] and Eminonu square.[1][7] It is considered the largest non-Muslim cemetery in Istanbul's history.[8]
History
Due to an epidemic, the Armenian community of Constantinople petitioned a cemetery to be built. The cemetery was founded in 1560 during Sultan Suleyman's reign.[9] In 1780 the cemetery was enlarged and in 1853 a wall was built around its premises.[10] After the outbreak of cholera in 1865, Pera became an important center of the city which was very close to the Surp Agop Cemetery. Therefore, due to governmental decree, burial of the dead became prohibited.[4] Subsequently, all further burials were then to be allocated to the Şişli Armenian Cemetery. The cemetery was demolished in the 1930s and in 1939 its marble tombstones were sold piece by piece.[1] The marble tombstones were used for the construction of the Inonu Gezi Park and the Eminonu square.[1]
Legal Case
In 1932 Mesrob Naroyan, the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople at the time, filed a lawsuit for the return of the property.[9] The Istanbul Municipality argued that the Patriarch of Constantinople had no right to sue since the Patriarch is considered non-existent since they were forced exile during the Armenian Genocide on July 19, 1915 and therefore had no title to the land even though the Patriarchate was functioning in Istanbul at its Kumkapi headquarters.[11][9] The Patriarchate did agree however that the title to the land wasn't with them but they had legitimate right to represent the cemetery through court proceedings on behalf of the Armenian Catholic Community and the Surp Agop Armenian Hospital.[11] Above all the Armenian Patriarch did own the land for most of the cemeteries history.[11] A commission was set up to investigate land ownership and appealed to the municipality court. The court rendered the Patriarchs claims as groundless.[11] Till this day the title of the property remains with the Istanbul municipality and its third party owners.[9]
See Also
References
- ↑ a b c d Gokhan Tan: Varolmayanın tescili In: Radikal, 07/24/2011. Abgerufen im 21 December 2012 (turkish).
- ↑ Tamar Nalci: Istanbul Radio was an Armenian Cemetry In: Midyat. Abgerufen im 21 December 2012 (turkish).
- ↑ Vehbi Koc: My life story: the autobiography of a Turkish businessman. Vehbi Koç Foundation, 1977, S. 238.
- ↑ a b Pars Tuğlacı: İstanbul Ermeni kiliseleri. Pars Yayın, İstanbul 1991, ISBN 978-975-7423-00-3.
- ↑ Taksim Topçu Kışlası’ndan tarihi kareler. In: Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi. Abgerufen am 21. Dezember 2012 (türkisch).
- ↑ Taksim Meydanı. Abgerufen am 21. Dezember 2012 (türkisch): „Translated from Turkish: The name was changed from Inonu Park to Taksim Square“
- ↑ K. Pamukciyan, Zamanlar Mekanlar İnsanlar, İstanbul, 2003
- ↑ Feriha Büyükünal: Bir zaman tüneli: Beyoğlu. 1. baskı. Auflage. Doğan Kitap, Güneşli, İstanbul 2006, ISBN 978-975-293-433-7, S. 21 (türkisch).
- ↑ a b c d Tamar Nalci: Bir Gasp Hikâyesi In: Bianet, August 27, 2011. Abgerufen im 21 December 2012 (turkish).
- ↑ Günay Göksu Özdoğan: Türkiye'de Ermeniler : cemaat, birey, yurttaş. 1. baskı. Auflage. İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları, Şişli, İstanbul 2009, ISBN 978-6-05399095-6 (türkisch).
- ↑ a b c d Soner Cagatay: Islam, secularism, and nationalism in modern Turkey: who is a Turk? Routledge, ISBN 978-1-134-17448-5, S. 135 (google.com [abgerufen am 21. Dezember 2012]).