A petition to free the area near the Saint Karapet Monastery in the Yukariyongal village of Mush and renovate the monastery has been submitted to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkey.

Aziz Dağcı, President of the Union of Social Assistance and Cultural  Solidarity of the Armenians of Sasun, Bitlis, Batman, Mush, Van, Istanbul and the other states, regions and villages and villages of Sasun, the union that submitted the petition, informed that the Saint Karapet Monastery is a very historic and significant site.

Ermenihaber.am reports that, according to the Turkish Milliyet, Dağcı had previously appealed for reconstruction of the monastery, but the Ministry of Culture and Tourism informed that there are 48 homes and 6 barns near the monastery. Dağcı mentioned that in letter N 2012-65584 received on 23 March 2012, they were informed that the area would be liberated within six months. “However, the church and the area have not been liberated between the years of 2012 and 2015,” the President of the Union said.

The latter also recalled that by point 42.3 of the Treaty of Lausanne, the Turkish government has expressed the commitment to protect the churches, synagogues, tombstones and other religious institutions of ethnic minorities.

Dağcı mentioned the need to bring individuals carrying out construction projects in places that need to be protected and are part of cultural heritage to justice and recalled that, in accordance with the legislation, those who intentionally cause damage to historic and cultural structures and illegally carry out construction projects shall be sentenced to 2-5 years in prison.

Dağcı expects a positive response from the Ministries of Culture and Tourism and Internal Affairs and informed that the Union would start clearing and renovating the area as soon as it receives a response.