The proprietor of Camp Armen Armenian orphanage in Istanbul, Turkey, promised to donate the orphanage to the Armenians.

Well-known Istanbul Armenian activist Garo Paylan, who has been nominated an MP candidate by Turkey’s pro-Kurdish “Peoples’ Democratic Party” (HDP), tweeted that, speaking with Camp Armen’s proprietor Fatih Ulusoy, the latter had pledged that he will donate the orphanage to an Armenian foundation at the end of the week.

Camp Armen Armenian orphanage was confiscated by the Turkish authorities back in 1987. Subsequently, it was sold to a Turkish businessman who, in turn, decided to demolish the orphanage and build luxury homes in the premises. As a result of public pressure, however, the demolition of the orphanage has been temporarily halted.

The camp was once home to around 1,500 children, including the late Hrant Dink—the founder and chief editor of Agos Armenian bilingual weekly of Istanbul, and who was shot dead on January 19, 2007 outside the office of his weekly—, and his wife Rakel.