Garo Kaprielyan, a prominent member of the Armenian community in Istanbul, was attacked by the employees of a market on Kinaliada Island in Istanbul, Turkey on the night of August 1, reports Agos.
During the attack, the market employees targeted Kaprielyan’s ethnic identity by shouting discriminatory and racist insults related to his nationality and physically assaulted him.
As a result of the attack, Kaprielyan’s finger was broken, and there were marks and bruises on his face, hand, and various parts of his body.
Kaprielyan, a resident of Kinaliada Island, turned to the police after the attack, and legal action has been taken at the Kınalıada Police Station, with the police mentioning that measures are being taken and the case has been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.
Garo Kaprielyan is a former administrator of the Institutions of the Armenian Community of Turkey, a former board chairman of the Kınalıada St. Krikor Lusavorich Church, and a distinguished member of both the Gedikpasha Hayrur Mangants choir and the Zvartnots choir.
Speaking to Agos, Garo Kaprielyan explained the background of the incident with the following words: “We had no problems in previous years, but we have been very disturbed by them for the past two years. I stopped shopping there. They spread onto the street. They occupied the sidewalks and the area in front of the apartment building. There is noise and commotion until midnight. The noise from the staff never ends. We had previously filed complaints. I took videos and photos of the areas occupied by the market. At that moment, one of the market employees tried to attack, and the other staff intervened. After that, I was attacked when I was about to enter the apartment building door.”
The attack was condemned by the St. Hovhannes Armenian Church in Istanbul. The Church’s statement said that they condemn this unpleasant and racist attack and wish Kaprielyan a speedy recovery.
The incident has sparked outrage, with civil society organizations protesting the attack and boycotting the market. Many island residents have started a campaign against shopping at the market.
To note, the Kinali island is home to majority Armenians as it is one of the most preferred summer havens by the Armenian community in present-day Turkey.
