Armenian buried as Muslim in Turkey to be reburied as Christian

July 5, 2012 - 12:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The body of a Turkish citizen of Armenian origin, who was buried in a Muslim cemetery due to financial problems, will be transferred to an Armenian cemetery after the required procedures are completed, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

According to Agos weekly, 85-year-old Harutyun Kamparisoğlu passed away on June 17while staying in a shelter. Üsküdar Surp Garabed Church Foundation approved Kamparisoğlu’s burial with Islamic customs since the man’s daughter Anna Taşçıyan could not afford the 8,000-Turkish Lira funeral cost. Kambarisoğlu’s funeral prayer was performed in Göztepe Mosque on June 18, and his body was buried in Ümraniye Hekimbaşı Cemetery with Islamic prayers.

The Armenian Patriarchate said they did not know about the incident but added that if they had known, they would have covered the funeral expenses.

“If we had known about the situation, we would have done whatever was necessary and would not have let such an incident occur. How the authorities conducted such a burial is another matter of interest,” Acting Patriarch Archishob Aram Ateşyan said.

He said that Kamparisoğlu’s daughter gave her consent for the funeral to be conducted according to the traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church and that Kamparisoğlu’s body would be transferred to the Armenian cemetery in a funeral after the required procedures are completed.

Taşçıyan said the necessary statement about the subject was made by the patriachate and that she would not make any personal statement.

Meanwhile, the Karacaahmet Cemetery Directorate, which approved Kamparisoğlu’s burial according to Islamic traditions, said non-Muslim people could be buried in Muslim cemeteries only if the mufti’s office declared the deceased to be a Muslim.

“Kamparisoğlu was also declared to be a Muslim. There are two people who witnessed his conversion to Islam by saying the Kelime-i Şahadet [Islamic confession of faith]. When two people witnessed it, his being a Muslim was [confirmed],” the directorate said.