Nor Zartonk movement of Istanbul Armenians organized a major protest demonstration and a march demanding the return of the city’s Camp Armen Armenian orphanage to the Armenian people. 

Numerous Istanbul Armenians, as well as Turkish and other nationality activists supporting them, assembled on Friday evening, reported CNN Turk news agency. The demonstrators carried banners that read, “Return Camp Armen to the Armenians!”

Protesters marched until Galatasaray High School, where Nor Zartonk member Sayat Tekir issued a statement. He recalled that Camp Armen was established in 1962, and it had adopted Armenian orphans, 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.

Tekir stressed that they will be standing guard at Camp Armen until a decision is made to return it to its real owners, the Armenian people.

After the announcement of the activist, the protest action ended peacefully.

Camp Armen Armenian orphanage was seized 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.