Turkey trying 3 people for dancing on gate of Armenian churchDecember 6, 2021 - 11:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A lawsuit has been filed against three people who danced on the gate of the Surp Takavor Armenian Church in İstanbul's Kadıköy in mid-July and were briefly taken into custody over the incident, Bianet reports. With the indictment issued by the İstanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, defendants Ozancan Y., Yunus Emre U. and Ömer Faruk A. are now facing up to 1 year in prison on charge of "publicly degrading the religious values of a segment of society." In the indictment lodged following the investigation into the incident, it is recalled that the defendants came in front of the church in a vehicle on the day of the incident. While defendant Ozancan Y. was playing music in the vehicle, other defendants Yunus Emre U. and Ömer Faruk A. got on top of the church's front gate where a cross stands and danced there. The indictment has noted that this act sparked public outrage and was criticized by citizens on social media. According to the indictment, the defendants, in their statements of defense, admitted having committed the act, but said that they did not act with criminal intent. The indictment has indicated that the committal of the act by the defendants has been confirmed by witness statements and camera footage. Referring to the examination carried out at the church by the law enforcement officers and to the remarks of the church official, the indictment has added the act in question did not lead to any damage or dirt at the church. Emphasizing that the act committed by getting on top of the church's wall and dancing publicly "degraded the religious values embraced by a segment of society and disturbed public peace", the Prosecutor's Office has demanded that defendants Ozancan Y., Yunus Emre U. and Ömer Faruk A. be sentenced to 6 months to 1 year in prison each on charge of "publicly degrading the religious values embraced by a segment of society." The defendants will appear before the judge at the İstanbul Anadolu 27th Criminal Court of First Instance in the coming days. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |