ISTANBUL. – The December 28, 2012 killing of Istanbul Armenian Marissa Kucuk was covered by the Turkish media as a brutal murder, but it was not a front-page news. The Istanbul Armenian community is deeply concerned over this incident and expects an explanation from the officials, writes Rober Koptas, the chief editor of Istanbul’s Agos Armenian bilingual weekly.

As per Koptas, at first look this murder seems to be one of the dozens of killings that take place every day in Turkey. But this was the second attack against an Armenian at the same district and in the past one month.  

Reflecting on the premise that the 85-year-old woman was killed for being Armenian, Agos’ chief editor posed a number of questions:   

Is it true that the attackers tattooed a cross on Kucuk’s body? Will the forensic medical examiners, or the Police, provide a clarification on this matter?

Was the attack against the two Armenian woman, and after a short interval, unplanned?

If both cases are linked to robbery, why were they accompanied with cruelties?

If they are noting that the perpetrators took the jewelry which these women were wearing, did they steal anything else from the homes, or did the robbery just cover up the true motive of the crime?   

Rober Koptas demands that the officials provide clarifications to these queries.