AMAA Calls for the Return of the Total Grounds of Camp Armen

PARAMUS, NJ – On October 27, 2015 partial justice was realized in Turkey with the return of part of the grounds of “The Youth Home of Istanbul’s” Camp Armen, a summer camp in the Tuzla District of Istanbul to its rightful owner, The Armenian Evangelical Church of Gedik Pasa.

Camp Armen was home to over 1,500 Armenian orphans, gathered from the depths of Anatolia and introduced to their faith and national origin by Hrant Guzelian. It was also where Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink and his wife Rakel met, grew up and were married. The Camp was being demolished.

AMAA Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian recently wrote to Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey thanking him and the Turkish government for their role in the partial resolution of the seizure of Camp Armen. Mr. Khanjian urged the Prime Minister to attain total justice with the return of the whole camp grounds, legally acquired and paid for by the Protestant Church and built by the sweat of its campers.

Letter to Turkey Prime Minister

Photo: Camp Armen under the leadership of Hrant and Rakel Dink (standing left at the back)