Murat Sarsaçı and Hişyar Özsoy, deputies from Van and Diyarbakır of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party, which forms part of Turkey’s parliamentary opposition, have raised the issue of the destruction of the Armenian cemetery in Van within the country’s parliament.
The Armenian cemetery, located in the Kalecik neighbourhood of the Tuşba district of Van province, was destroyed by means of construction machinery by an individual who claimed to be the owner of the said area. The headstones were displaced, and bone fragments appeared on the surface of the soil.
The opposition deputies complained that proper state preservation of religious and cultural structures is not being carried out, as a result of which, for example, the Armenian cemetery in Van was destroyed.
Deputy Murat Sarsaçı recalled that in 2017, a washhouse, a changing room and a parking lot had been built with complete indulgence on another Armenian cemetery in Van, and no end had been put to the acts of treasure hunters.
The opposition deputies, presenting photographs of the destroyed cemetery, addressed a question to Fuat Oktay, aide to the President of Turkey, and to Minister of Culture and Tourism Nuri Ersoy, asking whether state bodies are aware of what has been done and whether any measures are being taken to prevent attacks directed against historical and cultural values.
