Dancing on the gate of an Armenian church, three suspects released from detention

* Photo: Twitter

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Suspects Y.E.U., Ö.F.A. and O.Y., who climbed over the entrance gate of the Surp Takavor Armenian Church in İstanbul's Kadıköy district and danced on top of the gate, were taken into custody. Referred to the Anadolu Courthouse in Kartal in the afternoon, all three suspects have been released from detention; two have been released on probation.

A group of people played music and partied on the pedestrian road in front of the Surp Takavor Armenian Church yesterday evening (July 11).

Three people from the group climbed over the entrance gate of the church and started dancing there. As the images started circulating on social media, the incident sparked criticisms and reactions on Twitter.

'Police wait at the gate all the time'

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP and HDP Vice Co-Chair Responsible for Economy Garo Paylan has posted a message about the incident. "The Ministry of Interior has to immediately launch an investigation against the police officers on duty on that spot where there are police officers all the time," Paylan has said in his social media message.

Former HDP Central Executive Board member and Demokrat Haber columnist Murad Mıhçı has also shared the images of the ones who danced, attaching the note, "The state of our Kadıköy Surp Takavor Church. Police constantly wait in front of it so that no press statement takes place."

In a second social media post about the issue, Mıhçı has said, "I dropped by the Surp Takavor at the Kalkedon Square in the morning. Luckily, nothing bad has happened to the friend on duty at our church."

Statement by the ruling party

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) member Mücahit Birinci has condemned the attack on the church and said that they will follow up the issue.

Condemning the ones who danced, AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik has said, "Disrespect for places of worship is disrespect for everyone."

Governor's Office: We condemn it

The Governor's Office of İstanbul announced that the three people identified to have danced on the church gate had been taken into custody. The statement of the Governor's Office of İstanbul indicated, "We condemn this ugly behavior against the place of worship."

Statement by Interior Minister Soylu

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu also made a brief statement about the issue on Twitter. He said that "he called Arman Bükücüyan, the Executive Board Chair of the Church Foundation, and expressed his sadness about the disrespect for the Armenian Church in Kadıköy."

"The suspects who displayed disrespect to the church were detained by the İstanbul Security at 5.30 in the morning; the legal process is ongoing." (MEÖ/DŞ/KÖ/SD)