RIGHTS > Wise Persons hear minority woes
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
The Wise Persons Commission’s Marmara region sub-group met with representatives of minority communities on May 11 at the Feriköy Surp Vartananzs Armenian Church Şirinoğlu Hall.
During the meeting, many subjects were discussed including issues of identity and citizenship, the Lausanne Treaty, discriminatory expressions in course books, damaged cultural assets of Anatolia, the new constitutional process, changes to some street names such as Talat Paşa, Ergenekon, and Kurtuluş, the districts inhabited by minority populations, the exclusion of films representing minorities as hostile enemies from archives, and the church and school problems faced by the Syriac community.
Members of the minorities also voiced concerns that the bid for democracy and equality could potentially be interrupted, as it had been in the past.
At the meeting, daily Apoyevmatini’s Editor-in-Chief Mihalis Vasiliadis referred to a Turkish proverb, “A fool may throw a stone into a well, which a hundred wise men cannot pull out. We will see how many wise persons could pull out the stone,” he said.
Huge gap between state, minorities
Vasiliadis also said there was a huge gap between the state and minority communities, asking whether there was an effort to narrow this gap. He also shared his daily life experiences to illustrate how hard it is to be a minority in Turkey.
Vasiliadis also demanded support from one of the commission members, renowned actress Hülya Koçyiğt, for the exclusion of films that have hostile expressions or symbols against minorities.
Meanwhile, Harutyun Şanlı said the course books including hostile remarks towards minorities should be withdrawn as soon as possible. Şanlı said the period of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government had become a turning point for minority communities. “Though our state authorities are as close as a phone line, there are still some red lines in between,” he said.
Şanlı also recalled the Foundations Law, which was enacted about two years ago, “First they returned our own lands to us, but then the municipality said they needed a green area in Istanbul,” Şanlı said.
Also, Laki Vingas, who is in charge of minority foundations in the Foundations Directorate General, said the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan did not touch upon the minority communities in his speeches.
“For 90 years, we have claimed our rights, and been regarded as strangers. They always expected us to obey. We demand our reputation, not some rights sold on credit,” Vingas said.
There were also some tense moments during the meeting. The representatives of minority communities objected to the meeting’s description as a “meeting with non-Muslim minorities,” while the members of the Peace and Democracy party (BDP) reacted against the delegation head Deniz Ülke Arıboğan’s use of expressions such as “PKK terror” and “Kurdish terror.”
The commission, which was founded with the aim of providing a peaceful atmosphere in the resolution process of the Kurdish issue, is expected to submit a report to the government on June 14.
May/14/2013
14 Mayıs 2013 Salı
13 Mayıs 2013 Pazartesi
An architect building bridges between religions
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu / vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Kevork Özkaragöz, an Armenian architect who has designed many religious monuments for different religions and sects, refers to the opinions of the religious communities when developing his projects.
A member of an Armenian family renowned for their stonemasonry, Özkaragöz moved from Malatya to Istanbul with his family when he was 6 years old.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News about his projects, Özkaragöz said those likening him the chief Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan were exaggerating his skills.
“During the Ottoman period, there was not a tradition of highlighting a certain ethnicity or religion. Such a situation was never seen in architecture and other art forms,” Özkaragöz said.
“Also, the Balyan family [an Armenian dynasty of famous architects during Ottoman period] did not come to the forefront with their identity. As architects, we never attach a special importance to religious structures in our projects. Each architectural project bears importance since they are the structures presented to a city’s community. However, religious structures sometimes require more concentration and effort due to some features peculiar to them,” he said.
The structures built by Özkaragöz in recent years include Mahmut Şevket Paşa Hacı Bektaş Cemevi (an Alevi house of worship) in Istanbul’s Okmeydanı district, Plevne Mosque in Balıkesir’s Gönen district and the final prayer chapel in his hometown, Malatya.
Last year, the final prayer chapel – in a historical Armenian cemetery in Malatya – was demolished by municipal teams, which stirred a lot of debate in society. Due to the objections, the chapel was rebuilt on the grounds that the teams had “misunderstood the order.”
“While designing the Cemevi, I obtained the opinions of elderly persons in the Alevi community. I obtained data on Alevi culture and beliefs from studies published on the subject. And when designing the mosque, I tried to get to know the functions of a mosque by chatting with imams. I especially observed Istanbul’s mosques from the perspective of a designer. I refreshed my knowledge of mosques by examining mosques’ stages of development in art history books. I also examined Vedat Dalokay Islamabad Mosque and Behruz Çinici TCMM mosque, which were built in the Republican period,” he said.
“Existence, oneness and love of God form the basis of religions, while they center upon human beings.I believe each faith has a different form of worship and different needs. I can develop my designs by taking all these [differences] into account with the aid of my cultural background. I am very pleased when a religious structure comes into being and people can worship in them,” Özkaragöz said.
Çamlıca Mosque project
Özkaragöz also criticized the recent plans to build new mosques in distinct parts of Istanbul such as Çamlıca Hill and Taksim Square.
“It is not possible to regard Taksim as a modern square area, since the functional diversities among a series of buildings make it hard to see it as a square,” he said.
“Reorganizing ‘Topçu Kışlası’ [Artillery Barracks] will make the already complicated issue even more confusing. The distinct square areas in the world’s significant cities are noted with the homogeneously distributed buildings surrounding them. If Taksim is organized in such a way, of course a place of worship can be designed there, as we see some examples of it in some major cities of the world. A mosque built on a hill has no place in the traditions of the Bosphorus. All the mosques were built considering the coasts and scale of the Bosphorus. The historical peninsula is the most significant silhouette representing Istanbul. The mosque planned to be built on Çamlıca Hill must not compete to get a role in the historical peninsula. Also, a mosque designed in such an area would create some difficulties in the region due to its size and capacity,” Özkaragöz said.
May/11/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu / vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Kevork Özkaragöz, an Armenian architect who has designed many religious monuments for different religions and sects, refers to the opinions of the religious communities when developing his projects.
A member of an Armenian family renowned for their stonemasonry, Özkaragöz moved from Malatya to Istanbul with his family when he was 6 years old.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News about his projects, Özkaragöz said those likening him the chief Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan were exaggerating his skills.
“During the Ottoman period, there was not a tradition of highlighting a certain ethnicity or religion. Such a situation was never seen in architecture and other art forms,” Özkaragöz said.
“Also, the Balyan family [an Armenian dynasty of famous architects during Ottoman period] did not come to the forefront with their identity. As architects, we never attach a special importance to religious structures in our projects. Each architectural project bears importance since they are the structures presented to a city’s community. However, religious structures sometimes require more concentration and effort due to some features peculiar to them,” he said.
The structures built by Özkaragöz in recent years include Mahmut Şevket Paşa Hacı Bektaş Cemevi (an Alevi house of worship) in Istanbul’s Okmeydanı district, Plevne Mosque in Balıkesir’s Gönen district and the final prayer chapel in his hometown, Malatya.
Last year, the final prayer chapel – in a historical Armenian cemetery in Malatya – was demolished by municipal teams, which stirred a lot of debate in society. Due to the objections, the chapel was rebuilt on the grounds that the teams had “misunderstood the order.”
“While designing the Cemevi, I obtained the opinions of elderly persons in the Alevi community. I obtained data on Alevi culture and beliefs from studies published on the subject. And when designing the mosque, I tried to get to know the functions of a mosque by chatting with imams. I especially observed Istanbul’s mosques from the perspective of a designer. I refreshed my knowledge of mosques by examining mosques’ stages of development in art history books. I also examined Vedat Dalokay Islamabad Mosque and Behruz Çinici TCMM mosque, which were built in the Republican period,” he said.
“Existence, oneness and love of God form the basis of religions, while they center upon human beings.I believe each faith has a different form of worship and different needs. I can develop my designs by taking all these [differences] into account with the aid of my cultural background. I am very pleased when a religious structure comes into being and people can worship in them,” Özkaragöz said.
Çamlıca Mosque project
Özkaragöz also criticized the recent plans to build new mosques in distinct parts of Istanbul such as Çamlıca Hill and Taksim Square.
“It is not possible to regard Taksim as a modern square area, since the functional diversities among a series of buildings make it hard to see it as a square,” he said.
“Reorganizing ‘Topçu Kışlası’ [Artillery Barracks] will make the already complicated issue even more confusing. The distinct square areas in the world’s significant cities are noted with the homogeneously distributed buildings surrounding them. If Taksim is organized in such a way, of course a place of worship can be designed there, as we see some examples of it in some major cities of the world. A mosque built on a hill has no place in the traditions of the Bosphorus. All the mosques were built considering the coasts and scale of the Bosphorus. The historical peninsula is the most significant silhouette representing Istanbul. The mosque planned to be built on Çamlıca Hill must not compete to get a role in the historical peninsula. Also, a mosque designed in such an area would create some difficulties in the region due to its size and capacity,” Özkaragöz said.
May/11/2013
An architect building bridges between religions
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Kevork Özkaragöz is known for his monument designs that have taken on different religions over the course of time. Architect says it pleases him to share his designs with the worshipping crowds
Send to friend » Share on linkedin Armenian architect Kevork Özkaragöz desgined many monuments, including mosques and churches, for various religions, forming bridges between faiths.
Kevork Özkaragöz, an Armenian architect who has designed many religious monuments for different religions and sects, refers to the opinions of the religious communities when developing his projects.
A member of an Armenian family renowned for their stonemasonry, Özkaragöz moved from Malatya to Istanbul with his family when he was 6 years old.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News about his projects, Özkaragöz said those likening him the chief Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan were exaggerating his skills.
“During the Ottoman period, there was not a tradition of highlighting a certain ethnicity or religion. Such a situation was never seen in architecture and other art forms,” Özkaragöz said.
“Also, the Balyan family [an Armenian dynasty of famous architects during Ottoman period] did not come to the forefront with their identity. As architects, we never attach a special importance to religious structures in our projects. Each architectural project bears importance since they are the structures presented to a city’s community. However, religious structures sometimes require more concentration and effort due to some features peculiar to them,” he said.
The structures built by Özkaragöz in recent years include Mahmut Şevket Paşa Hacı Bektaş Cemevi (an Alevi house of worship) in Istanbul’s Okmeydanı district, Plevne Mosque in Balıkesir’s Gönen district and the final prayer chapel in his hometown, Malatya.
Last year, the final prayer chapel – in a historical Armenian cemetery in Malatya – was demolished by municipal teams, which stirred a lot of debate in society. Due to the objections, the chapel was rebuilt on the grounds that the teams had “misunderstood the order.”
“While designing the Cemevi, I obtained the opinions of elderly persons in the Alevi community. I obtained data on Alevi culture and beliefs from studies published on the subject. And when designing the mosque, I tried to get to know the functions of a mosque by chatting with imams. I especially observed Istanbul’s mosques from the perspective of a designer. I refreshed my knowledge of mosques by examining mosques’ stages of development in art history books. I also examined Vedat Dalokay Islamabad Mosque and Behruz Çinici TCMM mosque, which were built in the Republican period,” he said.
“Existence, oneness and love of God form the basis of religions, while they center upon human beings.I believe each faith has a different form of worship and different needs. I can develop my designs by taking all these [differences] into account with the aid of my cultural background. I am very pleased when a religious structure comes into being and people can worship in them,” Özkaragöz said.
Çamlıca Mosque project
Özkaragöz also criticized the recent plans to build new mosques in distinct parts of Istanbul such as Çamlıca Hill and Taksim Square.
“It is not possible to regard Taksim as a modern square area, since the functional diversities among a series of buildings make it hard to see it as a square,” he said.
“Reorganizing ‘Topçu Kışlası’ [Artillery Barracks] will make the already complicated issue even more confusing. The distinct square areas in the world’s significant cities are noted with the homogeneously distributed buildings surrounding them. If Taksim is organized in such a way, of course a place of worship can be designed there, as we see some examples of it in some major cities of the world. A mosque built on a hill has no place in the traditions of the Bosphorus. All the mosques were built considering the coasts and scale of the Bosphorus. The historical peninsula is the most significant silhouette representing Istanbul. The mosque planned to be built on Çamlıca Hill must not compete to get a role in the historical peninsula. Also, a mosque designed in such an area would create some difficulties in the region due to its size and capacity,” Özkaragöz said.
May/11/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Kevork Özkaragöz is known for his monument designs that have taken on different religions over the course of time. Architect says it pleases him to share his designs with the worshipping crowds
Send to friend » Share on linkedin Armenian architect Kevork Özkaragöz desgined many monuments, including mosques and churches, for various religions, forming bridges between faiths.
Kevork Özkaragöz, an Armenian architect who has designed many religious monuments for different religions and sects, refers to the opinions of the religious communities when developing his projects.
A member of an Armenian family renowned for their stonemasonry, Özkaragöz moved from Malatya to Istanbul with his family when he was 6 years old.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News about his projects, Özkaragöz said those likening him the chief Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan were exaggerating his skills.
“During the Ottoman period, there was not a tradition of highlighting a certain ethnicity or religion. Such a situation was never seen in architecture and other art forms,” Özkaragöz said.
“Also, the Balyan family [an Armenian dynasty of famous architects during Ottoman period] did not come to the forefront with their identity. As architects, we never attach a special importance to religious structures in our projects. Each architectural project bears importance since they are the structures presented to a city’s community. However, religious structures sometimes require more concentration and effort due to some features peculiar to them,” he said.
The structures built by Özkaragöz in recent years include Mahmut Şevket Paşa Hacı Bektaş Cemevi (an Alevi house of worship) in Istanbul’s Okmeydanı district, Plevne Mosque in Balıkesir’s Gönen district and the final prayer chapel in his hometown, Malatya.
Last year, the final prayer chapel – in a historical Armenian cemetery in Malatya – was demolished by municipal teams, which stirred a lot of debate in society. Due to the objections, the chapel was rebuilt on the grounds that the teams had “misunderstood the order.”
“While designing the Cemevi, I obtained the opinions of elderly persons in the Alevi community. I obtained data on Alevi culture and beliefs from studies published on the subject. And when designing the mosque, I tried to get to know the functions of a mosque by chatting with imams. I especially observed Istanbul’s mosques from the perspective of a designer. I refreshed my knowledge of mosques by examining mosques’ stages of development in art history books. I also examined Vedat Dalokay Islamabad Mosque and Behruz Çinici TCMM mosque, which were built in the Republican period,” he said.
“Existence, oneness and love of God form the basis of religions, while they center upon human beings.I believe each faith has a different form of worship and different needs. I can develop my designs by taking all these [differences] into account with the aid of my cultural background. I am very pleased when a religious structure comes into being and people can worship in them,” Özkaragöz said.
Çamlıca Mosque project
Özkaragöz also criticized the recent plans to build new mosques in distinct parts of Istanbul such as Çamlıca Hill and Taksim Square.
“It is not possible to regard Taksim as a modern square area, since the functional diversities among a series of buildings make it hard to see it as a square,” he said.
“Reorganizing ‘Topçu Kışlası’ [Artillery Barracks] will make the already complicated issue even more confusing. The distinct square areas in the world’s significant cities are noted with the homogeneously distributed buildings surrounding them. If Taksim is organized in such a way, of course a place of worship can be designed there, as we see some examples of it in some major cities of the world. A mosque built on a hill has no place in the traditions of the Bosphorus. All the mosques were built considering the coasts and scale of the Bosphorus. The historical peninsula is the most significant silhouette representing Istanbul. The mosque planned to be built on Çamlıca Hill must not compete to get a role in the historical peninsula. Also, a mosque designed in such an area would create some difficulties in the region due to its size and capacity,” Özkaragöz said.
May/11/2013
8 Mayıs 2013 Çarşamba
LOCAL > May Day victim girl barely finds hospital
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Dilan Alp, a 17-year-old girl who was severely wounded in the clashes during Istanbul’s May Day demonstrations, has been transferred to a third hospital after being discharged from the first two, while her family remains concerned about her health.
Alp was first discharged from Medikal Park Hospital’s intensive care unit on the grounds that she had recovered enough on May 6. Her family then took Alp to the Private Bağcılar Işık Medical Center, but she was also transferred from there to another hospital on the grounds that the facilities of the medical center were not sufficient.
Alp was struck in the head by a gas canister fired by police during May Day demonstrations close to Istanbul’s Taksim Square. Haluk Ağabeyoğlu, a friend of Dilan’s father Ali Ekber Alp, said Dilan had been hurriedly and unexpectedly discharged from hospital.
“While Dilan was in the intensive care unit, it was suddenly said that she would be discharged. Her father was shocked,” Ağabeyoğlu said.
Authorities from Medikal Park Hospital refuted the claims, arguing that the doctors decided to discharge her, as the treatment was completed.
Ağabeyoğlu, however, said these statements did not reflect the truth. “Despite their financial difficulties, the family was struggling to keep Dilan at the hospital, as her condition was critical. Her father Ali Ekber was fired from his job 15 months ago without receiving his social rights,” he said. “We are talking about a very young girl. The unjust smear against Dilan needs to be urgently cleared up.”
May/07/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Dilan Alp, a 17-year-old girl who was severely wounded in the clashes during Istanbul’s May Day demonstrations, has been transferred to a third hospital after being discharged from the first two, while her family remains concerned about her health.
Alp was first discharged from Medikal Park Hospital’s intensive care unit on the grounds that she had recovered enough on May 6. Her family then took Alp to the Private Bağcılar Işık Medical Center, but she was also transferred from there to another hospital on the grounds that the facilities of the medical center were not sufficient.
Alp was struck in the head by a gas canister fired by police during May Day demonstrations close to Istanbul’s Taksim Square. Haluk Ağabeyoğlu, a friend of Dilan’s father Ali Ekber Alp, said Dilan had been hurriedly and unexpectedly discharged from hospital.
“While Dilan was in the intensive care unit, it was suddenly said that she would be discharged. Her father was shocked,” Ağabeyoğlu said.
Authorities from Medikal Park Hospital refuted the claims, arguing that the doctors decided to discharge her, as the treatment was completed.
Ağabeyoğlu, however, said these statements did not reflect the truth. “Despite their financial difficulties, the family was struggling to keep Dilan at the hospital, as her condition was critical. Her father Ali Ekber was fired from his job 15 months ago without receiving his social rights,” he said. “We are talking about a very young girl. The unjust smear against Dilan needs to be urgently cleared up.”
May/07/2013
7 Mayıs 2013 Salı
Halki may be used as library, Metropolit says
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Heybeliada Halki Seminary, the religious school that has remained closed for 42 years, could be used as a library for research, conferences and studies if the government will not reopen it as an educational institution, Metropolit Elpidophoros Lambrianidis has told the Daily News.
The statement came one day before an extraordinary Easter celebration on the Heybeliada Island close to Istanbul.
“Since our respected government has not made the decision to officially reopen our school as an educational institution, we decided to do so in another way,” Lambrianidis told the Daily News over the weekend.
“We will open the school as a monastic brotherhood, as a meeting place, a place for research in the library, place for conferences, hospitality, and study,” he added.
“Everybody is welcome to join us, whatever his/her nation, religion or language might be,” he said.
Agias Triados Church, a part of the Halki Seminary, witnessed a landmark Easter ceremony with consulate generals from 14 countries gathering at the school.
“This idea was born last year, when some Consul Generals of Orthodox countries came to Heybeliada and did the same thing, with lower numbers of participation, of course. The success of last year gave rise to the idea of extending the event this year, by inviting more people,” said Lambrianidis.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Cabinet ministers have repeatedly said that the seminary could be opened but no bold steps on the issue have been taken yet.
The opening of the seminary has turned into an international issue with the U.S. State Secretary John Kerry calling on Turkey to reopen the school in his visit to Istanbul last month.
A draft resolution calling on Turkey to facilitate the reopening without condition or further delay has been submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month.
The issue was discussed during talks in Ankara on Feb. 25 during which German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish PM Erdoğan met with various spiritual leaders, according to sources.
May/07/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu
vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Heybeliada Halki Seminary, the religious school that has remained closed for 42 years, could be used as a library for research, conferences and studies if the government will not reopen it as an educational institution, Metropolit Elpidophoros Lambrianidis has told the Daily News.
The statement came one day before an extraordinary Easter celebration on the Heybeliada Island close to Istanbul.
“Since our respected government has not made the decision to officially reopen our school as an educational institution, we decided to do so in another way,” Lambrianidis told the Daily News over the weekend.
“We will open the school as a monastic brotherhood, as a meeting place, a place for research in the library, place for conferences, hospitality, and study,” he added.
“Everybody is welcome to join us, whatever his/her nation, religion or language might be,” he said.
Agias Triados Church, a part of the Halki Seminary, witnessed a landmark Easter ceremony with consulate generals from 14 countries gathering at the school.
“This idea was born last year, when some Consul Generals of Orthodox countries came to Heybeliada and did the same thing, with lower numbers of participation, of course. The success of last year gave rise to the idea of extending the event this year, by inviting more people,” said Lambrianidis.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Cabinet ministers have repeatedly said that the seminary could be opened but no bold steps on the issue have been taken yet.
The opening of the seminary has turned into an international issue with the U.S. State Secretary John Kerry calling on Turkey to reopen the school in his visit to Istanbul last month.
A draft resolution calling on Turkey to facilitate the reopening without condition or further delay has been submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month.
The issue was discussed during talks in Ankara on Feb. 25 during which German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish PM Erdoğan met with various spiritual leaders, according to sources.
May/07/2013
6 Mayıs 2013 Pazartesi
LOCAL > Turkey’s longest-serving inmate enjoying freedom
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News-Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Tahir Canan, recenlty released from prison after serving 32 years in jail, a record jail-term in Turkey, is trying to adjust his new free life. A convict of the 1980 military coup, Canan will seek a payback in the European Court of Human Rights from those ‘unjustly stole my years’
Turkey’s longest sentence serving convict, Tahir Canan is adjusting to his newfound freedom, ending his ordeal of 32 years behind bars.
A symbolic convict of the 1980 military coup, Canan was released on April 30 in accordance with the fourth judicial package, ending his ordeal of 32 years in prison. He was sentenced to 36 years in prison on charges of murdering two right-wing advocates in 1978.
“From now on, I will start my life like a newborn child,” the 60-year-old Canan told the Hürriyet Daily News, three days after his release, “I have to survive; otherwise, I would have to destroy myself.”
Until his release, Canan never saw his youngest son, who is now 20 years old. His wife Gülnigar Canan raised their four children by herself. Only a day after his release, Canan directly headed to the demonstration protesting against conflicts between the government and unions on Labor Day. “The outer world has changed a lot in 32 years, while I was behind bars,” he added. “However, the external world has also turned into a concrete jungle and humans have become mechanized.”
In 1978, Canan was sentenced to 36 years on charges of murder and being a member of the Turkish Revolutionary Communist Party. After 13 years, he was released on probation. A year later, he married Gülnigar Canan, his second wife. However, he was charged for “having children distribute political statements” in Malatya, and given a sentence of 12 years and six months.
“I was a left-winger, and everyone would know me. When two right-wingers were killed, police detained me without evidence. I was released on probation during the 1990s. Then I headed to Malatya and began selling towels. And they detained me again since I am an ex-convict. They stole my years, my life and my family from me,” he added.
The file of Canan currently awaits a decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Canan and his family spoke to Hürriyet Daily News during their visit to Istanbul.
“They unjustly stole my years, and must pay its account,” Canan said. I was subjected to the greatest tortures. They tore my hair and moustache. They gave me electric shocks. My friends were victimized to the point of unidentified murders. I will become their voice outside,” Canan said.
His wife Gülnigar Canan said, “I was 31 when my husband was arrested. I raised four children while he was away. I faced many hardships as a woman living alone.” His 20-year-old son, İmran Kaya Canan, who is currently a student at Ankara University, said it was very strange to call someone “dad” after all these years.
“Rebuilding a father-son relation is very hard. I shaped my relation with my father according to prison conditions. Now I must adapt to this. Now there aren’t thick walls and bars between us. But there are years stolen from us,” he said.
‘Unidentified murders must be questioned’
Canan said he was exposed to both physical and psychological violence during his first years in prison. “I was subjected to every kind of torture. I stayed in a cell for three years. They are now behaving as if freedom was bestowed on me thanks to the fourth judicial package. But the judiciary only maneuvered. I was thinking that I was forgotten in these 32 years. I tried to make contacts with press but they did not listen to me. The state also forgot me,” he said. Canan also criticized the ongoing Ergenekon coup plot case. “Only the coup aspect is being questioned within the case. Why don’t they question what happened to those victimized in unidentified murders? Weren’t they the citizens of this country? Many of my friends were killed by unidentified persons. My survival is a bare coincidence. I will struggle for the rights of [my dead friends],” he said.
İmran Kaya Candan said he faced many difficulties especially in his childhood years. “Only a few of my friends know our family’s situation. Friends can be very cruel at those ages, so I hid all my experiences,” he said.
Gülnigar Canan said they suffered a great deal during her husband’s prison years. “When İmran was a newborn baby, and my other son was still a little child, we paid a visit to their dad. They received our nursing bottle and diapers. They detained my elder son when he raised his voice. When he was outside, he was covered in bruises. I experienced such great fears,” she said.
May/06/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News-Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Tahir Canan, recenlty released from prison after serving 32 years in jail, a record jail-term in Turkey, is trying to adjust his new free life. A convict of the 1980 military coup, Canan will seek a payback in the European Court of Human Rights from those ‘unjustly stole my years’
Turkey’s longest sentence serving convict, Tahir Canan is adjusting to his newfound freedom, ending his ordeal of 32 years behind bars.
A symbolic convict of the 1980 military coup, Canan was released on April 30 in accordance with the fourth judicial package, ending his ordeal of 32 years in prison. He was sentenced to 36 years in prison on charges of murdering two right-wing advocates in 1978.
“From now on, I will start my life like a newborn child,” the 60-year-old Canan told the Hürriyet Daily News, three days after his release, “I have to survive; otherwise, I would have to destroy myself.”
Until his release, Canan never saw his youngest son, who is now 20 years old. His wife Gülnigar Canan raised their four children by herself. Only a day after his release, Canan directly headed to the demonstration protesting against conflicts between the government and unions on Labor Day. “The outer world has changed a lot in 32 years, while I was behind bars,” he added. “However, the external world has also turned into a concrete jungle and humans have become mechanized.”
In 1978, Canan was sentenced to 36 years on charges of murder and being a member of the Turkish Revolutionary Communist Party. After 13 years, he was released on probation. A year later, he married Gülnigar Canan, his second wife. However, he was charged for “having children distribute political statements” in Malatya, and given a sentence of 12 years and six months.
“I was a left-winger, and everyone would know me. When two right-wingers were killed, police detained me without evidence. I was released on probation during the 1990s. Then I headed to Malatya and began selling towels. And they detained me again since I am an ex-convict. They stole my years, my life and my family from me,” he added.
The file of Canan currently awaits a decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Canan and his family spoke to Hürriyet Daily News during their visit to Istanbul.
“They unjustly stole my years, and must pay its account,” Canan said. I was subjected to the greatest tortures. They tore my hair and moustache. They gave me electric shocks. My friends were victimized to the point of unidentified murders. I will become their voice outside,” Canan said.
His wife Gülnigar Canan said, “I was 31 when my husband was arrested. I raised four children while he was away. I faced many hardships as a woman living alone.” His 20-year-old son, İmran Kaya Canan, who is currently a student at Ankara University, said it was very strange to call someone “dad” after all these years.
“Rebuilding a father-son relation is very hard. I shaped my relation with my father according to prison conditions. Now I must adapt to this. Now there aren’t thick walls and bars between us. But there are years stolen from us,” he said.
‘Unidentified murders must be questioned’
Canan said he was exposed to both physical and psychological violence during his first years in prison. “I was subjected to every kind of torture. I stayed in a cell for three years. They are now behaving as if freedom was bestowed on me thanks to the fourth judicial package. But the judiciary only maneuvered. I was thinking that I was forgotten in these 32 years. I tried to make contacts with press but they did not listen to me. The state also forgot me,” he said. Canan also criticized the ongoing Ergenekon coup plot case. “Only the coup aspect is being questioned within the case. Why don’t they question what happened to those victimized in unidentified murders? Weren’t they the citizens of this country? Many of my friends were killed by unidentified persons. My survival is a bare coincidence. I will struggle for the rights of [my dead friends],” he said.
İmran Kaya Candan said he faced many difficulties especially in his childhood years. “Only a few of my friends know our family’s situation. Friends can be very cruel at those ages, so I hid all my experiences,” he said.
Gülnigar Canan said they suffered a great deal during her husband’s prison years. “When İmran was a newborn baby, and my other son was still a little child, we paid a visit to their dad. They received our nursing bottle and diapers. They detained my elder son when he raised his voice. When he was outside, he was covered in bruises. I experienced such great fears,” she said.
May/06/2013
2 Mayıs 2013 Perşembe
Legal status of minorities to be negotiated in Ankara
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu/vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
The legal status of Catholic foundations and other minority institutions in Turkey will be negotiated at a conference in Ankara on May 13.
Led by Laki Vingas, who is in charge of minority foundations in the General Directorate of Foundations, the conference will begin at 10.30 a.m. on May 13 at Ankara University Political Science Faculty’s Human Rights Center. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Interior Minister Muammer Güler, EU Minister Egemen Bağış and Foundation Director General Adnan Ertem were invited to the meeting.
Many institutions belonging to religious or ethnic minorities such as churches, cemeteries, and hospitals are deprived of legal entity rights including the Fener Greek Patriarchate, Turkey’s Armenian Patriarchate, Jewish Chief Rabbi’s Office, and various Catholic institutions. Vingas said the issue of legal entity was one of the leading problems they often came across.
“Over my five years in office, I observed that the institutions could not work effectively due to the issue of legal status, and cannot comply with today’s conditions,” Vingas said. “Formerly we used to have difficulties in going to Ankara and expressing our problems there. Now such a problem does not exist,” Vingas said about the location of the meeting.
“Patriarchates, chief rabbis, and Catholic churches do not have legal status. There are political relations with Vatican; but still, Turkey does not recognize churches,” Vingas added.
“We are talking about institutions that have at least 150 years of history. Not only religious institutions, also nursing homes, hospitals, and cemeteries lack legal entity rights. We receive complaints from Adana and Adıyaman with regards to cemeteries, but we cannot do anything. We want to immediately discuss the problem and try to offer solutions through dialogue,” Vingas said. Vingas is currently attempting to bring together all the foundations under a federation.
May/02/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu/vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
The legal status of Catholic foundations and other minority institutions in Turkey will be negotiated at a conference in Ankara on May 13.
Led by Laki Vingas, who is in charge of minority foundations in the General Directorate of Foundations, the conference will begin at 10.30 a.m. on May 13 at Ankara University Political Science Faculty’s Human Rights Center. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Interior Minister Muammer Güler, EU Minister Egemen Bağış and Foundation Director General Adnan Ertem were invited to the meeting.
Many institutions belonging to religious or ethnic minorities such as churches, cemeteries, and hospitals are deprived of legal entity rights including the Fener Greek Patriarchate, Turkey’s Armenian Patriarchate, Jewish Chief Rabbi’s Office, and various Catholic institutions. Vingas said the issue of legal entity was one of the leading problems they often came across.
“Over my five years in office, I observed that the institutions could not work effectively due to the issue of legal status, and cannot comply with today’s conditions,” Vingas said. “Formerly we used to have difficulties in going to Ankara and expressing our problems there. Now such a problem does not exist,” Vingas said about the location of the meeting.
“Patriarchates, chief rabbis, and Catholic churches do not have legal status. There are political relations with Vatican; but still, Turkey does not recognize churches,” Vingas added.
“We are talking about institutions that have at least 150 years of history. Not only religious institutions, also nursing homes, hospitals, and cemeteries lack legal entity rights. We receive complaints from Adana and Adıyaman with regards to cemeteries, but we cannot do anything. We want to immediately discuss the problem and try to offer solutions through dialogue,” Vingas said. Vingas is currently attempting to bring together all the foundations under a federation.
May/02/2013
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