Armenian Cemetery in Van Destroyed; Local Deputy Raises Issue

The Armenian cemetery located in the Tushpa region of Van province, Turkey, has been bulldozed. This information has been reported by Bianet, as conveyed by Sputnik Armenia.

It is noted that the Kaleçik neighborhood, also known as Lezk, was an Armenian quarter before the Genocide of 1915. Following the earthquake in Van in 2011, residential buildings began to be constructed here, and the area has been privatized. One of the property owners brought in bulldozers to the cemetery area and demolished the graves. Tombstones and bones have been scattered around the bulldozers.

Murad Sarisach, a deputy from the People's Democratic Party in Van province, raised the issue of the demolished cemetery in parliament today, showing photographs. "The pictures clearly show that the tombstones have been damaged, and dozens of bones have been scattered around the cemetery," he stated.

The deputy pointed out that such incidents are frequently recorded in Van, which demonstrates that necessary measures are not being taken to protect historical monasteries, churches, and cemeteries. "In 2017, a toilet, locker room, and parking lot were built over another Armenian cemetery," he noted. Sarisach asked Parliament Vice President Fuat Oktay whether an investigation had been launched into the incident and why authorities are not protecting Armenian cemeteries and cultural and religious heritage.