Turkish Armenian community facing uncertainty with resignations
Monday, November 29, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Karaköse quit his post after the patriarchate's financial board resigned.
The administration of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey has been thrown into uncertainty following a decision by the institution’s financial board to resign en masse due to differences of opinion with the acting patriarch.
“It has never been like this in the whole history of the patriarchate,” Melkon Karaköse, a key figure in the community and most important person on the financial board, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review last week. “We [Turkish Armenians] are at the risk of losing our integrity and unity as a society and we are passing through extremely dark times.”
The board chose to resign following problems with Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, who was made acting patriarch by the Interior Ministry after the Armenian community failed to select a new patriarch after current Patriarch Mesrop II was diagnosed with frontal dementia two years ago, leaving him unable to fulfill his duties. Under the Armenian Aposolic Church's cannon law, a new patriarch cannot be selected until the previous one has died.
Although the financial board was previously necessary to facilitate the community’s commercial matters, the power now solely rests in the acting patriarch’s hands.
“The financial board fell into bad terms with Archbishop Ateşyan and decided to resign. I told them that if they quit, I would quit as well because it was impossible for me to take such great responsibility on my shoulders,” Karaköse said.
“Ateşyan is an honest man, but he needs to take measures today in order to prevent being taken to account tomorrow, or else he will suffer greatly,” Karaköse said, adding that the community should have been allowed to elect a new patriarch, rather than trying to cope with the substitute system.
The resignation of the financial board, which has helped handle the Armenian community’s commercial matters for the past 550 years, has left the community in a difficult position as financial dealings have required the signature of one cleric and one layperson to become valid as part of a tradition dating back to Ottoman times.
“When I did not sign a document, all the financial conducts of the patriarchate used to come to a hiatus,” said Karaköse, who has been the layperson responsible for signing off on the documents for many years. “I sued to sign all the documents on behalf of the community, and the reason why a civil signature is required together with that of the clergy is to overcome possible acts of bribery.”
Karaköse has served in the patriarchate’s top positions for the past 30 years and has been considered the right-hand man of the last three patriarchs, including Mesrop II.
29 Kasım 2010 Pazartesi
25 Kasım 2010 Perşembe
Istanbul center breaks ground with ethnic language institute
Thursday, November 25, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
Istanbul’s Geoaktif Culture and Activism Center is now providing classes in six Anatolian languages, ranging from Armenian to Laz. The classes, a first for Turkey, are attracting interest from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, says Cemal Atila, the center’s founder, who adds the lessons are testament to a changing Turkey
A new center in Istanbul’s Taksim neighborhood has begun to offer courses for a number of under-threat Anatolian languages, providing a tangible example of the societal changes currently occurring in Turkey, according to the location’s founder.
“In the last few years, racist approaches have fallen apart as small and new institutions, like ours, are sprouting out through the cracks,” Cemal Atila, head of the Geoaktif Culture and Activism Center, recently told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
The center is taking applications from people eager to learn a variety of languages spoken in Anatolia, including Armenian, Kurdish, Laz, Persian and Zaza. To date, no language center in Turkey has ever tried to provide classes in such a broad variety of tongues.
In addition to students coming from a number of different ethnic backgrounds, many Turks are also interested in the center, said Atila.
“Anyone can join us. There is no preparation class or anything. But we rather act prudently and examine applicants before they start courses,” said Atila, adding that they currently had a total of 25 students.
Lack of teachers fluent in languages
Although the center started activities in October it has still suffered from a lack of teachers fluent in all the languages offered, Atila said.
“We didn’t want to stop despite all odds and just found a few teachers,” he said. “[But] the important thing is to make a start at some point.”
Despite the growing pains, the center hopes to add new languages to those already offered and ultimately work toward the survival of all Anatolian languages, Atila said.
The cultural policies that led to the suppression of marginal languages in favor of the national language, Turkish, have occurred in countries throughout the world that have felt the need to create its own nation-state, Atila said.
“The only difference we have in Turkey is that pressures are stronger and last longer. But it is exhilarating to see such staid oppression dying out,” he said.
‘Turkey is changing’
Although the greater openness toward plurality in Turkish society suggests a move in a positive direction, Atila said it was important to remember that society was not monolithic.
“A significant part of society seriously questions official ideology and its oppressive system. They are aware of the social and cultural damage caused by this ideology. But this, at the same time, creates a reverse process,” he said. “Though intellectuals, writers and artists claim to be modern and the pro-Western, they can show hostility toward local ethnicities. Many intellectuals and artists, who are so-called humanists and world citizens, have raised objections to Kurdish education. They say the introduction of such a right divides the country.”
Despite the dilemma, Atila believes some things have started to change in Turkey. “The word Armenian was used a cuss word for years. Who could have opened an Armenian-language course in this country?” he asked.
Ethnic language courses will spread
The center is also hoping to organize discussions and conferences with the participation of linguists in the near future.
The center also aims to spread out throughout Turkey, Atila said, adding that they would also involve themselves in the preservation of cultures, cuisines, music and dances of different ethnicities in the country.
“Within a few years, we’ll have more detailed studies. And of course we will not be satisfied with the ethnic languages of this land. We will concentrate on world languages and cultures, be involved in cultural activities and question some certain elements,” he said.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
Istanbul’s Geoaktif Culture and Activism Center is now providing classes in six Anatolian languages, ranging from Armenian to Laz. The classes, a first for Turkey, are attracting interest from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, says Cemal Atila, the center’s founder, who adds the lessons are testament to a changing Turkey
A new center in Istanbul’s Taksim neighborhood has begun to offer courses for a number of under-threat Anatolian languages, providing a tangible example of the societal changes currently occurring in Turkey, according to the location’s founder.
“In the last few years, racist approaches have fallen apart as small and new institutions, like ours, are sprouting out through the cracks,” Cemal Atila, head of the Geoaktif Culture and Activism Center, recently told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
The center is taking applications from people eager to learn a variety of languages spoken in Anatolia, including Armenian, Kurdish, Laz, Persian and Zaza. To date, no language center in Turkey has ever tried to provide classes in such a broad variety of tongues.
In addition to students coming from a number of different ethnic backgrounds, many Turks are also interested in the center, said Atila.
“Anyone can join us. There is no preparation class or anything. But we rather act prudently and examine applicants before they start courses,” said Atila, adding that they currently had a total of 25 students.
Lack of teachers fluent in languages
Although the center started activities in October it has still suffered from a lack of teachers fluent in all the languages offered, Atila said.
“We didn’t want to stop despite all odds and just found a few teachers,” he said. “[But] the important thing is to make a start at some point.”
Despite the growing pains, the center hopes to add new languages to those already offered and ultimately work toward the survival of all Anatolian languages, Atila said.
The cultural policies that led to the suppression of marginal languages in favor of the national language, Turkish, have occurred in countries throughout the world that have felt the need to create its own nation-state, Atila said.
“The only difference we have in Turkey is that pressures are stronger and last longer. But it is exhilarating to see such staid oppression dying out,” he said.
‘Turkey is changing’
Although the greater openness toward plurality in Turkish society suggests a move in a positive direction, Atila said it was important to remember that society was not monolithic.
“A significant part of society seriously questions official ideology and its oppressive system. They are aware of the social and cultural damage caused by this ideology. But this, at the same time, creates a reverse process,” he said. “Though intellectuals, writers and artists claim to be modern and the pro-Western, they can show hostility toward local ethnicities. Many intellectuals and artists, who are so-called humanists and world citizens, have raised objections to Kurdish education. They say the introduction of such a right divides the country.”
Despite the dilemma, Atila believes some things have started to change in Turkey. “The word Armenian was used a cuss word for years. Who could have opened an Armenian-language course in this country?” he asked.
Ethnic language courses will spread
The center is also hoping to organize discussions and conferences with the participation of linguists in the near future.
The center also aims to spread out throughout Turkey, Atila said, adding that they would also involve themselves in the preservation of cultures, cuisines, music and dances of different ethnicities in the country.
“Within a few years, we’ll have more detailed studies. And of course we will not be satisfied with the ethnic languages of this land. We will concentrate on world languages and cultures, be involved in cultural activities and question some certain elements,” he said.
15 Kasım 2010 Pazartesi
Turkey's Armenians facing problems with board's election
Sunday, November 14, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
Turkey’s Armenian community is facing difficulties in electing an administrative board for the Üç Horan Armenian Church Foundation, with some claiming society officials are guilty of discrimination.
“Armenians from [the Central Anatolian province of] Sivas are dominant in the administrative board, and they do not want Armenians from [the Southeast Anatolian province of Şırnak] and [the Black Sea province of] Sinop to have any influence whatsoever in the community foundations. They call them Kurds. Such discrimination is unacceptable in a 50,000-person community,” Üç Horan Foundation chairman candidate Efrim Bağ told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
Sarkis Elbe, a prominent member of the Armenian community in Turkey, said the election process has been “painful,” adding that the elections should be open to all members of the Armenian community in Istanbul to prevent problems in future elections.
Misak Hergel, president of the Istanbul-based Vakıflıköy Armenians Association, also believes that the elections should be open to public. “A general election should be held not only for Beyoğlu but all foundations,” said Hergel. “Many foundations do not have a congregation and the current election process is not fair.”
The Turkish-Armenian community owns 42 foundations, all of them based in Istanbul. Üç Horan has the largest amount of revenue among them.
In May 2009 the foundation applied to the General Directorate of Foundations to elect their administrative board. Some, however, said after the polls that the administrative board had conducted an unlawful election for its own ends. The election was canceled and the issue was taken to court.
The General Directorate of Foundations demanded a new election, which was scheduled for Nov. 21 of this year. However, the same administrative board was found to have unlawfully prepared an election list and the election was postponed again, this time until February.
The Turkish Armenian community in Istanbul wants the board elections to be open to participation by all members of the community. According to the community’s attorneys, there is no legal impediment to that in the Turkish law for foundations.
Bağ further said the patriarch’s word used to be considered a holy order, but the lack of a proper patriarch at the moment has complicated the community’s internal affairs.
“The deputy patriarch invited all the parties to the Patriarchate to discuss the issue, but nobody went. This is openly denying the Patriarchate and its status,” Bağ said.
Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrop II has developed frontal dementia, preventing him from fulfilling his duties. Following intervention by the Turkish Interior Ministry, Archbishop Aram Ateşyan was appointed deputy patriarch.
Because the current patriarch is still alive, a new patriarch cannot be elected, according to the canon of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review called the foundation board to ask for comment about the claims, but the board refused to answer its questions.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
Turkey’s Armenian community is facing difficulties in electing an administrative board for the Üç Horan Armenian Church Foundation, with some claiming society officials are guilty of discrimination.
“Armenians from [the Central Anatolian province of] Sivas are dominant in the administrative board, and they do not want Armenians from [the Southeast Anatolian province of Şırnak] and [the Black Sea province of] Sinop to have any influence whatsoever in the community foundations. They call them Kurds. Such discrimination is unacceptable in a 50,000-person community,” Üç Horan Foundation chairman candidate Efrim Bağ told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
Sarkis Elbe, a prominent member of the Armenian community in Turkey, said the election process has been “painful,” adding that the elections should be open to all members of the Armenian community in Istanbul to prevent problems in future elections.
Misak Hergel, president of the Istanbul-based Vakıflıköy Armenians Association, also believes that the elections should be open to public. “A general election should be held not only for Beyoğlu but all foundations,” said Hergel. “Many foundations do not have a congregation and the current election process is not fair.”
The Turkish-Armenian community owns 42 foundations, all of them based in Istanbul. Üç Horan has the largest amount of revenue among them.
In May 2009 the foundation applied to the General Directorate of Foundations to elect their administrative board. Some, however, said after the polls that the administrative board had conducted an unlawful election for its own ends. The election was canceled and the issue was taken to court.
The General Directorate of Foundations demanded a new election, which was scheduled for Nov. 21 of this year. However, the same administrative board was found to have unlawfully prepared an election list and the election was postponed again, this time until February.
The Turkish Armenian community in Istanbul wants the board elections to be open to participation by all members of the community. According to the community’s attorneys, there is no legal impediment to that in the Turkish law for foundations.
Bağ further said the patriarch’s word used to be considered a holy order, but the lack of a proper patriarch at the moment has complicated the community’s internal affairs.
“The deputy patriarch invited all the parties to the Patriarchate to discuss the issue, but nobody went. This is openly denying the Patriarchate and its status,” Bağ said.
Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrop II has developed frontal dementia, preventing him from fulfilling his duties. Following intervention by the Turkish Interior Ministry, Archbishop Aram Ateşyan was appointed deputy patriarch.
Because the current patriarch is still alive, a new patriarch cannot be elected, according to the canon of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review called the foundation board to ask for comment about the claims, but the board refused to answer its questions.
11 Kasım 2010 Perşembe
Istanbul concert to commemorate Gomidas Vartabed on 140th birthday
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Kütahya-born Armenian musician Gomidas Vartabed will be commemorated on his 140th birthday throughout Armenia, the diaspora and Turkey. Made possible thanks to a grant from the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, Thursday’s free concert will present the Kusan 2010 Choir’s rendition of the great composer’s ‘Badarak’ (Divine Liturgy)
The Kusan 2010 Choir will perform a concert to commemorate a milestone in Armenian music, the birth of Gomidas Vartabed.
Groups in both Turkey and Armenia are preparing to hold a series of free concerts to mark the 140th birthday of Kütahya-born Gomidas Vartabed, who is widely recognized as the father of modern Armenian classical music.
“We want to commemorate Gomidas in the land where he was born,” said Istanbul University Radio and Television Department student Sayat Dağlıyan, 23, who helped form the Gomidas Platform.
The commemoratory “Gomidas Liturgical Music” concerts, which were made possible by a grant from the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, will be held Thursday at 9 p.m. at the Surp Yerortutyum Armenian Church (Üç Horan Armenian Church) in Beyoğlu’s Balıkpazarı and on Nov. 26 at Istanbul Kültür University’s Akıngüç Oditorium free of charge.
The music will be performed by the Kusan 2010 Choir, the descendent of the original Kusan Choir that Vartabed formed himself over a century ago, and will be conducted by two Armenian maestros, including the conductor of Istanbul’s Lusavoriç Armenian Choir, Hagop Mamgonyan, and the conductor of the Karasunmangazs Armenian Choir, Edvin Galipoğlu.
Mamigonyan said the Kusan 2010 Choir would perform a capella and be composed only of men, as it was in the past.
Galipoğlu, meanwhile, said the choir members were made up of 30 amateurs from different age groups that were all educated in Istanbul’s Armenian choirs.
The choir will perform Vartabed’s polyphonic “Badarak” (Divine Liturgy), which the maestro composed for the Armenian Apostolic Church but was not completed until its notation by his student in 1933 in Paris.
The concert will be broadcast live online at www.gomidasplatform.org/live.
Turkish and Armenian youth together
One of the founding members of the Gomidas Platform, Sona Menteşe, said realizing the project was akin to making a dream come true.
“We learned that the 2010 Istanbul Agency invited an orchestra from Armenia for Gomidas’ birthday but the orchestra was unable to come. Later, we presented the project and it was accepted. We thank the agency on behalf of Istanbul’s Armenians,” Menteşe said.
At the end of last year Dağlıyan made a short film on Vartabed, titled “İncu/Neden.” With the other members of the platform, he has been organizing the “Blind Photographers Project” since the beginning of the year for the performance of Vartabed’s works.
There are also young Turkish people among the team members. “We experience the pleasure of doing something together,” Dağlıyan said. “In this way, we share the universal language of music and love like Gomidas showed us.”
Mamigonyan and Galipoğlu said they had accelerated their rehearsals since August.
Noting that there had been disagreements among Armenian choirs, Mamigonyan said: “Some did not believe us that we would be able to make it properly. But we, a handful people, wanted to give life to Vartabed again.”
Galipoğlu agreed with Mamigonyan and said the Armenian Patriarchate had provided great support to them.
Istanbul’s Armenians, who have closed themselves in the past because of their small numbers and a variety of other problems, have increasingly started to engage with the wider society. “It is true that we have opened to society in the cultural field. Some of our members are interested in politics, too,” said platform member Misak Hergel. “But the assassination of [Armenian-Turkish journalist] Hrant Dink discouraged us.”
Gomidas Vartabed
Ethnomusicologist, composer and maestro Gomidas Vartabed was born in the Aegean province of Kütahya, which is famous for its tiles, in the middle of the 1800s. Born Soğomon Soğomonyan, Vartabed (which means priest) was an orphan and was sent to the Armenian Apostolic Central Church in Armenia to receive a religious education.
Later, he studied music at Berlin University and organized important conferences there. He is especially known for researching Armenian, Anatolian and Transcaucasian music, as well as Turkish, Kurdish, Azeri and Iranian musical forms.
When he recorded Armenian religious music at the beginning of 1900s, he had problems with Etchmiadzin and the Turkish Armenian Patriarchate.
He was also one of 230 Armenian intellectuals who were arrested in Istanbul and deported on April 24, 1915. After witnessing the murder of a number of friends during the deportation, Vartabed lost his mental health. He died in 1935 in Paris.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Kütahya-born Armenian musician Gomidas Vartabed will be commemorated on his 140th birthday throughout Armenia, the diaspora and Turkey. Made possible thanks to a grant from the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, Thursday’s free concert will present the Kusan 2010 Choir’s rendition of the great composer’s ‘Badarak’ (Divine Liturgy)
The Kusan 2010 Choir will perform a concert to commemorate a milestone in Armenian music, the birth of Gomidas Vartabed.
Groups in both Turkey and Armenia are preparing to hold a series of free concerts to mark the 140th birthday of Kütahya-born Gomidas Vartabed, who is widely recognized as the father of modern Armenian classical music.
“We want to commemorate Gomidas in the land where he was born,” said Istanbul University Radio and Television Department student Sayat Dağlıyan, 23, who helped form the Gomidas Platform.
The commemoratory “Gomidas Liturgical Music” concerts, which were made possible by a grant from the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, will be held Thursday at 9 p.m. at the Surp Yerortutyum Armenian Church (Üç Horan Armenian Church) in Beyoğlu’s Balıkpazarı and on Nov. 26 at Istanbul Kültür University’s Akıngüç Oditorium free of charge.
The music will be performed by the Kusan 2010 Choir, the descendent of the original Kusan Choir that Vartabed formed himself over a century ago, and will be conducted by two Armenian maestros, including the conductor of Istanbul’s Lusavoriç Armenian Choir, Hagop Mamgonyan, and the conductor of the Karasunmangazs Armenian Choir, Edvin Galipoğlu.
Mamigonyan said the Kusan 2010 Choir would perform a capella and be composed only of men, as it was in the past.
Galipoğlu, meanwhile, said the choir members were made up of 30 amateurs from different age groups that were all educated in Istanbul’s Armenian choirs.
The choir will perform Vartabed’s polyphonic “Badarak” (Divine Liturgy), which the maestro composed for the Armenian Apostolic Church but was not completed until its notation by his student in 1933 in Paris.
The concert will be broadcast live online at www.gomidasplatform.org/live.
Turkish and Armenian youth together
One of the founding members of the Gomidas Platform, Sona Menteşe, said realizing the project was akin to making a dream come true.
“We learned that the 2010 Istanbul Agency invited an orchestra from Armenia for Gomidas’ birthday but the orchestra was unable to come. Later, we presented the project and it was accepted. We thank the agency on behalf of Istanbul’s Armenians,” Menteşe said.
At the end of last year Dağlıyan made a short film on Vartabed, titled “İncu/Neden.” With the other members of the platform, he has been organizing the “Blind Photographers Project” since the beginning of the year for the performance of Vartabed’s works.
There are also young Turkish people among the team members. “We experience the pleasure of doing something together,” Dağlıyan said. “In this way, we share the universal language of music and love like Gomidas showed us.”
Mamigonyan and Galipoğlu said they had accelerated their rehearsals since August.
Noting that there had been disagreements among Armenian choirs, Mamigonyan said: “Some did not believe us that we would be able to make it properly. But we, a handful people, wanted to give life to Vartabed again.”
Galipoğlu agreed with Mamigonyan and said the Armenian Patriarchate had provided great support to them.
Istanbul’s Armenians, who have closed themselves in the past because of their small numbers and a variety of other problems, have increasingly started to engage with the wider society. “It is true that we have opened to society in the cultural field. Some of our members are interested in politics, too,” said platform member Misak Hergel. “But the assassination of [Armenian-Turkish journalist] Hrant Dink discouraged us.”
Gomidas Vartabed
Ethnomusicologist, composer and maestro Gomidas Vartabed was born in the Aegean province of Kütahya, which is famous for its tiles, in the middle of the 1800s. Born Soğomon Soğomonyan, Vartabed (which means priest) was an orphan and was sent to the Armenian Apostolic Central Church in Armenia to receive a religious education.
Later, he studied music at Berlin University and organized important conferences there. He is especially known for researching Armenian, Anatolian and Transcaucasian music, as well as Turkish, Kurdish, Azeri and Iranian musical forms.
When he recorded Armenian religious music at the beginning of 1900s, he had problems with Etchmiadzin and the Turkish Armenian Patriarchate.
He was also one of 230 Armenian intellectuals who were arrested in Istanbul and deported on April 24, 1915. After witnessing the murder of a number of friends during the deportation, Vartabed lost his mental health. He died in 1935 in Paris.
10 Kasım 2010 Çarşamba
Western Turkey hotel owner builds tower in defiance of prosecutors
Monday, November 8, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Linguist and academic Sevan Nişanyan has defied an order to demolish his boutique hotels in the Şirince village of the Aegean province of İzmir by building a 12-meter tower at the site of his hotels.
“I defy [the authorities]. They’d have to kill me in order to make me give up on these houses,” he told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
The tower bears an inscription explaining the reason it was built. An opening was recently held for the tower with the participation of villagers.
The boutique hotels built by Nişanyan were the first examples of their kind.
16 lawsuits opened against Nişanyan
Nişanyan built the hotels in the early 1990s but 16 lawsuits were filed against him almost immediately after they started operating. Seven of the 16 lawsuits are for unlawful construction, two are for development pollution and the others are for breaking a seal.
A few years ago, a Şirince cultural and natural assets committee provided local authorities with its views on conservation in the area, said Fatma Sedes, an architecture and restoration expert at Istanbul Aydın University, but added that officials were not interested.
“We have also examined the Nişanyan Houses and have not seen any construction inconsistent with the historical fabric,” Sedes said, adding that since there is no law currently stating otherwise, additional structures should be allowed in line with existing regulations.
As the lawsuits continued, Nişanyan added 12 extensions inspired by Aegean architecture to his hotels between 2005 and 2006 and was sued again for the extra work.
“Many lawsuits have been filed against me, and the court ordered the destruction of all the buildings, including the poultry,” Nişanyan said, noting that his hotels had been shut down and that he had been threatened many times.
“In all these suits, the top limit of the sentences totals 10 years. All these court decisions are waiting at the court of appeal. They can issue an arrest warrant for me anytime, but I am not afraid. The prosecution process was accelerated due to an article of mine on [Turkish republican founder Mustafa Kemal] Atatürk.”
“It is not conceivable how such an atmosphere has occurred even though [new] laws are not ready. I think both parties are being obstinate with each other. A middle way can be found,” Sedes said.
‘I am not leaving Şirince’
After some alleged that the court cases against Nişanyan were due to his Turkish-Armenian identity, other villagers with unlawful buildings were also prosecuted.
Many Şirince villagers, however, have apparently supported Nişanyan. "They are the victims of the same rotten system and want someone to stand up for their rights. I believe that in time they will gain courage to stand up and fight for their rights themselves,” Nişanyan said.
Nişanyan said that despite all that he had gone through, he had not thought of leaving Şirince.
“I love traveling. But I have a debt to Şirince. It is not enough to travel the entire world like a tourist and enjoy all its beauty. I must leave something behind for the next generations,” he said.
Monday, November 8, 2010
VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Linguist and academic Sevan Nişanyan has defied an order to demolish his boutique hotels in the Şirince village of the Aegean province of İzmir by building a 12-meter tower at the site of his hotels.
“I defy [the authorities]. They’d have to kill me in order to make me give up on these houses,” he told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
The tower bears an inscription explaining the reason it was built. An opening was recently held for the tower with the participation of villagers.
The boutique hotels built by Nişanyan were the first examples of their kind.
16 lawsuits opened against Nişanyan
Nişanyan built the hotels in the early 1990s but 16 lawsuits were filed against him almost immediately after they started operating. Seven of the 16 lawsuits are for unlawful construction, two are for development pollution and the others are for breaking a seal.
A few years ago, a Şirince cultural and natural assets committee provided local authorities with its views on conservation in the area, said Fatma Sedes, an architecture and restoration expert at Istanbul Aydın University, but added that officials were not interested.
“We have also examined the Nişanyan Houses and have not seen any construction inconsistent with the historical fabric,” Sedes said, adding that since there is no law currently stating otherwise, additional structures should be allowed in line with existing regulations.
As the lawsuits continued, Nişanyan added 12 extensions inspired by Aegean architecture to his hotels between 2005 and 2006 and was sued again for the extra work.
“Many lawsuits have been filed against me, and the court ordered the destruction of all the buildings, including the poultry,” Nişanyan said, noting that his hotels had been shut down and that he had been threatened many times.
“In all these suits, the top limit of the sentences totals 10 years. All these court decisions are waiting at the court of appeal. They can issue an arrest warrant for me anytime, but I am not afraid. The prosecution process was accelerated due to an article of mine on [Turkish republican founder Mustafa Kemal] Atatürk.”
“It is not conceivable how such an atmosphere has occurred even though [new] laws are not ready. I think both parties are being obstinate with each other. A middle way can be found,” Sedes said.
‘I am not leaving Şirince’
After some alleged that the court cases against Nişanyan were due to his Turkish-Armenian identity, other villagers with unlawful buildings were also prosecuted.
Many Şirince villagers, however, have apparently supported Nişanyan. "They are the victims of the same rotten system and want someone to stand up for their rights. I believe that in time they will gain courage to stand up and fight for their rights themselves,” Nişanyan said.
Nişanyan said that despite all that he had gone through, he had not thought of leaving Şirince.
“I love traveling. But I have a debt to Şirince. It is not enough to travel the entire world like a tourist and enjoy all its beauty. I must leave something behind for the next generations,” he said.
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