Six graves vandalized in historic Armenian cemetery in Istanbul

ISTANBUL — Six graves and a fountain were vandalized at the historic Surp Garabed Armenian Cemetery in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district after an unidentified individual entered the cemetery during the night of 7–8 July.

According to the Turkish Armenian newspaper Agos, the perpetrator climbed over the cemetery wall, entered the grounds, and damaged six gravestones as well as the cemetery fountain. The report said the fountain’s basin was broken, along with the cross motifs carved into the six gravestones.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey said the Board of Trustees of the Üsküdar Surp Garabed Church Foundation had reported the incident to the police. The Patriarchate added that the suspect had not yet been identified or apprehended.

(Image: Agos)

The Surp Garabed Armenian Cemetery is located in the Bağlarbaşı neighborhood of Istanbul’s Üsküdar district. The adjacent Surp Garabed Armenian Church, administered by the same foundation, dates back to the sixteenth century and is one of the city’s historic Armenian places of worship.

The motive for the vandalism remains unclear, and authorities have not announced any arrests or identified a suspect.

Istanbul is home to Turkey’s largest remaining Armenian community, with the city’s ethnic Armenian population estimated at approximately 50,000 people.