124 Monumental, 410 Registered Buildings Under Threat

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Chamber of Architects calling for the protection of damaged cultural properties in Turkey’s southeastern Sur district of Diyarbakır province has declared that they are ready to contribute to protection of damaged architectural and cultural properties.

Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape is included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.

The chamber remarked that there are 124 monumental, 410 registered civilian architectural buildings in the region.

Turkish bath, church, mosque

Many cultural properties including Paşa Hamamı (Pasha Turkish bath), Yoğurt Pazarı (Yoghurt Bazaar), Surp Giragos Ermeni Kilisesi (Surp Giragos Armenian Church) have been damaged during the intensified conflict and attacks.

Lastly, Şeyh Mutahhar Camii (Sheikh Mutahhar Mosque) was damaged on account of heavy weapon fire on November 25; Kurşunlu Camii (Kursunlu Mosque) was damaged because of the fire outbreak on December 7.

Diyarbakır Bar President Tahir Elçi was murdered in his press release he held to call for the protection of Sheikh Mutahhar Mosque.

Hague convention

The Chamber of Architects reminded that Turkey signed the “Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict with Regulations for the Execution of the Convention” in 1965 and “Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict” in 1983.

The chamber reminding the Constitution in addition to international conventions has called for the "authorities and every sensitive groups to take action to protect cultural heritage, which is the heritage of whole humanity". (NV/TK)