Shopkeeper Who Attacked Kaprielian Near Istanbul Says The Attack was not a Hate Crime Because he is a Kurd
Istanbul — The incident happened in the Knali Island near Istanbul, when Garo Kaprielian was arguing with a shopkeeper for placing his merchandise in front of his house and blocking the entrance to the house.
That objection caused the shopkeeper and his employees to assault him and insult him for his nationality. Many locals demanded that the islanders stop shopping from that store.
The shopkeeper called the editorial office of the Agos Armenian newspaper in Istanbul and tried to justify the incident. He claimed that he had not insulted Garo in a discriminatory manner, because he is a Kurd by origin and Kurds cannot have enmity against Armenians.
However, some people in Ankara started collecting signatures to condemn what happened. Agos wrote that “Armenians need to be extremely vigilant to such attacks, so that people do not dare to insult or attack them.”
In the meantime, the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey Sahak II and the Mayor of the Island visited Garo Kaprielian, expressing their
It should be noted that a similar incident happened years ago in the Big Island, this time targeting a Jewish citizen living on the island. After that incident, during the Saturday worship, the Chief Rabbi warned his people to refrain from trading from that store. That appeal was influential, and Jews stopped their trade from the mentioned shop.
