Istanbul Armenians comment on killing of Armenian girl and Turk

14/12/2010

Killing of an Armenian girl and a Turk in Istanbul evoked a response of the Armenian community of Turkey. The Vatan newspaper published some of the comments.

“There are different views regarding mixed marriages in the Armenian community. Some treat this positively, some of the Armenians – negatively. I respect both positions,” said Aram Ateshyan, Deputy Patriarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate of the Armenian Apostolic church, condemning the crime.

According to him, groom had Christian roots but the family turned to Islam in the beginning of 20 century.

In his turn, Petros Sirinoglu, Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Armenian Surb Prkich (Holy Savior) hospital in Istanbul, stressed that such crime should not have been committed in 21 century.

“Murders in the name of religion and honor are unacceptable. Unfortunately, the killed girl is Armenian. In the past representatives of previous generation opposed marriages with Muslims but they expressed their protest by words,” he added.

Grigor Agabaoglu, representative of the Gedikpasha Armenian church of Istanbul, considers unacceptable behavior of girl’s family. “The groom has Christian roots. They are Armenians who had to turn to Islam in 1915 in order to survive,” he said.

On December 12, corpses of Armenian Sonaya and Turk Zakeriya were found in the car in Istanbul.

Girls’ brother confessed to killing sister and brother-in-law who insulted him and his traditions.

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