Camp Armen

In the 1950s, the lower floor of the Gedikpaşa Surp Hovhannes Church was used as an orphanage for orphaned or poor Armenian children from Anatolia. As the number of children in need increased, the need arose for a place for them to stay and have a holiday in the summer.{{Cite web |date=2016-03-18 |title=Kurucusunun kaleminden Kamp Armen'in hikâyesi |url=https://www.agos.com.tr/tr/yazi/14730/kurucusunun-kaleminden-kamp-armenin-hikyesi |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Agos |language=tr}}

In November 1962, the leaders of the Gedikpaşa Surp Hovhannes Church bought a piece of land in Tuzla, Istanbul and registered it in the name of the church. Thirty children between the ages of 8 and 12, including Hrant Dink, started to work on the construction of the camp.{{Cite web |title=Kamp Armen – #KampArmenYıkılmasın |url=http://www.kamparmen.org/en/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2015-07-08 |title=Kamp Armen Tarihi {{!}} Kamp Armen |url=http://www.kamparmen.org/kamp-armen-tarihi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708015126/http://www.kamparmen.org/kamp-armen-tarihi/ |archive-date=2015-07-08 |access-date=2023-06-23}}

In 1974, properties belonging to Christian Foundations were seized by authorities due to Turkey's political atmosphere which was affected by political activities outside the country. The land of the camp was one of those properties. The camp was closed in 1983 and the land of the orphanage was confiscated by the state before it was returned to its former owners.{{Cite web |title=Hatıralardan miras olmaz mı: Kamp Armen |url=https://aposto.com/s/hatiralardan-miras-olmaz-mi-kamp-armen |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Aposto |language=tr}}{{Cite web |title=Sürgündeki Kamp Armen |url=https://tr.boell.org/tr/2015/07/13/surgundeki-kamp-armen |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Heinrich Böll Foundation |language=tr}} Legal remedies were tried for the return of the camp, and the lawsuits filed for the payment of compensation for the facilities built on the land were also inconclusive.{{Cite web |title=Istanbul's Camp Armen to be Rebuilt – Asbarez.com |url=https://asbarez.com/istanbuls-camp-armen-to-be-rebuilt/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |language=en-US}}

The camp was the subject of an exhibit by the Turkish Human Rights Association in 1996, the materials from which were published in book form in 2000, with a foreword by Orhan Pamuk and an afterword by Hrant Dink. In 2001 the camp grounds were sold to a local businessman who intended to build a house on the site until Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink contacted him and let him know that the land had belonged to an orphanage.{{cite news |last=Döndaş |first=İnci |date=28 January 2007 |title=Tuzla Çocuk Kampı'ndan Hrantlar'ın öyküsü çıktı |language=tr |work=Star |url=http://www.stargazete.com/index.asp?haberID=110486 |access-date=20 March 2007}} The businessman offered to donate the land back, but the law at the time did not permit it.

In 2011, with the amendment made to the Law on Foundations, the process of returning the confiscated properties of minority foundations was initiated and applications were made again, but no compensation was paid.{{Cite web |title=The New Law on Foundations is in Effect |url=https://www.tusev.org.tr/en/civil-society-law-reform/foundations/the-new-law-on-foundations-is-in-effect |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=TUSEV}}{{Cite web |date=2015-10-27 |title=Kamp Armen is returned |url=https://www.agos.com.tr/en/article/13160/kamp-armen-is-returned |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Agos |language=en}}

Plans of the orphanage being demolished to make room for more luxury housing surfaced on the news in April 2015.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-04-29 |title=Ermeni yetimhanesi yıkılıyor |url=https://www.internethaber.com/ermeni-yetimhanesi-yikiliyor-784422h.htm |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=İnternethaber |language=tr-TR}}{{Cite web |title=Kamp Armen'i Yıkma Planına Karşı Kampanya |url=https://bianet.org/haber/kamp-armen-i-yikma-planina-karsi-kampanya-164162 |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Bianet |language=tr}}

Demolition works started on the camp on the morning of 6 May 2015, with reactions coming from Armenian foundations and activist groups based in Istanbul soon after.{{Cite web |date=2015-04-27 |title=Kamp Armen isyanı... Hrant Dink'in yetiştiği yetimhane yıkılmasın |url=https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/kamp-armen-isyani-hrant-dinkin-yetistigi-yetimhane-yikilmasin-263737 |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Cumhuriyet |language=tr}}{{Cite web |date=2015-05-06 |title=Tuzla'daki Ermeni Yetimhanesi Yıkılıyor |url=https://www.haberler.com/guncel/tuzla-daki-ermeni-yetimhanesi-yikiliyor-7278503-haberi/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Haberler.com |language=tr}} While the restitution negotiations were ongoing, Nor Zartonk and Kamp Arman Solidarity started a protest against the demolition of the camp.{{Cite web |last=Refugees |first=United Nations High Commissioner for |title=Refworld {{!}} Turkey: Demolition of Armenian orphanage in Istanbul stopped amid outcry |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/5565ba8827.html |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Refworld |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Işıl |first=Demirel |date=2015-05-06 |title=Tuzla Ermeni Yetimhanesi'nde neler oluyor? |url=https://www.salom.com.tr/arsiv/haber/95089/tuzla-ermeni-yetimhanesinde-neler-oluyor |website=Şalom |language=tr}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Weekly |date=2015-05-06 |title=Tuzla's Camp Armen under Demolition |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2015/05/06/camp-armen-under-demolition/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Armenian Weekly |language=en-US}} A Change.org campaign and a march were organized for the restitution, contributing heavily to the halt of demolition operations although the subcontracted workers who came to demolish the orphanage quit when they heard the story of the orphanage.{{Cite web |last=Özdal |first=Hakkı |date=2015-05-07 |title=Kamp Armen'de Yıkım Durdu, Nöbet Sürüyor |url=https://www.magmadergisi.com/turkiye-tarihi/kamp-armende-yikim-durdu-nobet-suruyor |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Magma Dergisi |language=tr}}{{Cite web |date=2015-05-12 |title=Halkımızı Kamp Armen'e Sahip Çıkmaya Çağırıyoruz! |url=https://www.norzartonk.org/kamp-armen-acimizin-ve-kaybimizin-tarihi-ortak-gelecegimizin-ve-umudun-mekanidir/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Nor Zartonk / Նոր Զարթօնք |language=tr}}{{Cite web |date=2011-12-30 |title=Church asks for return of orphanage - Türkiye News |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/church-asks-for-return-of-orphanage-10336 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |language=en}} On the 175th day of the resistance, Fatih Ulusoy, who appeared as the owner of the land by law, donated the property to the Gedikpaşa Surp Hovhannes Church.{{Cite web |title=Kamp Armen Direnişin 175. Gününde İade Edildi |url=https://bianet.org/bianet/insan-haklari/168693-kamp-armen-direnisin-175-gununde-iade-edildi |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Bianet}}{{Cite web |date=2015-05-08 |title=Kamp Armen arazisinin sahibi Ulusoy: Bir ay bekleriz, çözüm bulunamazsa yıkarız |url=https://www.diken.com.tr/kamp-armen-arazisinin-sahibi-ulusoy-bir-ay-bekleriz-cozum-bulunamazsa-yikariz/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Diken |language=tr}} Ulusoy, who had also requested the orphanage to be demolished due to its risk of collapse later stated that he felt no remorse for it as he did not know the history of the camp.{{Cite web |date=2015-07-05 |title="Kendimi vebal altına girmiş hissetmiyorum" |url=https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/kendimi-vebal-altina-girmis-hissetmiyorum-270979 |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Cumhuriyet |language=tr}}{{Cite web |date=2015-09-07 |title=Kamp Armen'e dair elzem sorular |url=https://www.agos.com.tr/tr/yazi/12107/kamp-armene-dair-elzem-sorular |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Agos |language=tr}} The rest of the camp, which was expropriated by Tuzla Municipality, was requested to be returned.{{Cite web |date=2015-10-27 |title=Kamp Armen iade edildi |url=https://www.agos.com.tr/tr/yazi/13160/kamp-armen-iade-edildi |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Agos |language=tr}}{{Cite web |date=2018-12-11 |title=Kamp Armen iade edildi |url=https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/kamp-armen-iade-edildi |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=CNN TÜRK |language=tr}}

The first orphanage was completely demolished on 8 April 2017 for the construction of the new one.{{Cite web |date=2017-12-04 |title=Yeni Kamp Armen için ilk kazma vuruldu |url=https://www.agos.com.tr/tr/yazi/18221/yeni-kamp-armen-icin-ilk-kazma-vuruldu |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Agos |language=tr}}

In December 2017, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Parliament removed the "administrative facility" annotation on the land of the camp and declared it a "social and cultural facility area".{{Cite web |date=2017-05-16 |title=Kamp Armen için imar değişikliğine onay |url=https://www.agos.com.tr/tr/yazi/18509/kamp-armen-icin-imar-degisikligine-onay |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Agos |language=tr}}

On 19 January 2021, in line with the unanimous decision of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Parliament, the plan amendment regarding the area of the orphanage was approved and work began on the reconstruction of the camp.{{Cite web |title=Kamp Armen'de inşaat sürüyor, Ermeni çocukların kampı geri dönüyor |url=https://www.evrensel.net/haber/500878/kamp-armende-insaat-suruyor-ermeni-cocuklarin-kampi-geri-donuyor |website=Evrensel}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Kamp Armen inşaatı başlıyor |url=https://www.ermenihaber.am/tr/news/2022/01/19/Kamp-Armen-Dink/223657 |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Ermeni Haber |language=tr}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-01-19 |title=Keşke Hrant Dink de görseydi... Kamp Armen inşaatı başlıyor |url=https://www.odatv4.com/guncel/keske-hrant-dink-de-gorseydi-kamp-armen-insaati-basliyor-227097 |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=odaTV |language=tr-TR}}{{Cite web |date=2021-01-15 |title=Hrant Dink'in yetiştiği Kamp Armen'in imarı oy birliği ile değiştirildi, projenin önü açıldı |url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2021/gundem/hrant-dinkin-yetistigi-kamp-armenin-imari-oy-birligi-ile-degistirildi-projenin-onu-acildi-6212786/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Sözcü |language=tr}}

The process of earthworks on the land of the orphanage started in 2022 with the foundation of Camp Armen being laid in November 2023.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-19 |title=Yeni Kamp Armen için hafriyata başlandı |url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/gundem/yeni-kamp-armen-icin-hafriyata-baslandi-6874440 |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Milliyet |language=tr}}{{Cite web |last=Yılmaz |first=Çiğdem |date=2023-11-12 |title=Kamp Armen'in temeli atıldı |url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/gundem/kamp-armenin-temeli-atildi-7033401 |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Milliyet |language=tr}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-05 |title=Hrant Dink'in 'Atlantis Uygarlığı' Kamp Armen'in temeli dualarla atıldı: "Çocuklar bir tohum attılar, Tanrı büyüttü" |url=https://serbestiyet.com/haberler/hrant-dinkin-atlantis-uygarligi-kamp-armenin-temeli-dualarla-atildi-cocuklar-bir-tohum-attilar-tanri-buyuttu-147484/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Serbestiyet |language=tr}}

Once built, the orphanage will be the home to a dormitory that can hold 100 people, a cultural center, a library, many multi-purpose halls, and an auditorium. Also, at the entrance of Kamp Armen, there will be the Kamp Armen Memory Center informing visitors about the history of the orphanage.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-10 |title='Kamp Armen' geri dönüyor |url=https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/turkiye/kamp-armen-geri-donuyor-2128729 |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Cumhuriyet |language=tr}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-27 |title=Camp ARMEN |url=https://amaa.org/camp-armen-consecration-ceremony/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Armenian Missionary Association of America |language=en-US}}

On the 14th anniversary of the murder of Hrant Dink, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu stated that with the plan amendment regarding the area of the orphanage being approved, there would now be no obstacles blocking Camp Armen being transformed into a youth center. He also added that work had begun on the architectural project for the restoration of the camp.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-19 |title=İmamoğlu paylaştı: Dink'in büyüdüğü yetimhanenin yerine Kamp Armen Gençlik Merkezi kurulacak |url=https://www.indyturk.com/node/302601/haber/i%CC%87mamo%C4%9Flu-payla%C5%9Ft%C4%B1-dinkin-b%C3%BCy%C3%BCd%C3%BC%C4%9F%C3%BC-yetimhanenin-yerine-kamp-armen-gen%C3%A7lik-merkezi |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Independent Turkish |language=tr}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Güzelyan |first=Hrant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q0idAQAACAAJ |title=Kamp Armen'e Giden Yol |publisher=HDV Publications |year=2016 |isbn=978-6-05660-113-2}}

{{refend}}

Category:Orphanages in Turkey

Category:Tuzla, Istanbul

Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Istanbul

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1963

Category:Armenian buildings in Turkey