Turkish Historian Speaks About Seizure Of Armenian Property

TURKISH HISTORIAN SPEAKS ABOUT SEIZURE OF ARMENIAN PROPERTY

February 5, 2015 09:40

Mehmet Polatel

Photo: Photolure

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Turkish historian Mehmet Polatel presented his
“Seizure of Armenian Property during Armenian Genocide and after it”
study at the American University of Armenia (AUA).

Mehmet Polatel studies late Ottoman history and early period of the
Turkish Republic. He is currently working on his Ph.D. thesis at
Bogazici University.

Mediamax has put down some of the Turkish historian’s ideas.

“I believe the seizure of the Armenian property during the Genocide
and after is an important subject both in academic study and political
terms. Despite the continuous policy of destruction, the Armenian
property and realty are the evidence of rich Armenian heritage and
communal culture in Turkey. The future of the Armenian property and the
study of its confiscation have pivotal significance in forming an idea
about the integrity of the Armenian Genocide and its implications”.

“The policy of denial has destroyed a number of documents verifying
the property of Armenians and kept in the archives of the Ottoman
Empire. And the archives that were preserved are not open to
researchers”.

“The seized Armenian property was being handed over to immigrants,
those who had returned from the Balkan War or to Muslim businessmen or
was being used for state needs. The Armenian property, for instance,
churches, schools and other institutions, served as arsenal, police
stations or hospitals in the future”.

“The seizure of the Armenian property was carried out on both state
and individual levels. Governmental bodies, local authorities as
well as individuals, particularly, the neighbors of Armenians, were
involved in it”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress