The leaders of the petitions committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT) have responded to the application submitted for reconstruction of the St. Karapet Monastery of Mush, reports leader of the Union of “Armenians of Sasun, Bitlis, Batman, Mush, Van, Istanbul and All Other States, Areas and Villages and Armenian Social Assistance of Villages of Sasun Area” (Armenian Minorities) Aziz Dagji.

According to the Turkish Bugün newspaper, in his previous statement, Dagji had mentioned that the monastery is of great importance and is a historic place where there are currently 48 houses and 6 barns. Dagji reports that the response from the parliament states the decision on initiating an investigation into those responsible for the issue.

In addition, the GNAT will protect the Armenian monastery in accordance with the line of Article 10 of the Law on Cultural and Natural Heritage Protection. The letter states that a legal procedure will be initiated against those who don’t protect the monastery and that the representatives must appeal to the special department of the state of Mush with the purpose of receiving permission to measure and restore the monastery. The church is in the department’s registry.

Dagji has informed that his organization will continue with all the required legal procedures for restoration. “The existence of 48 houses and 6 barns near the St. Karapet Monastery of Mush is an offense against the church of the Armenian community. Nobody can accept that offense,” the leader of the Armenian union said.

Let us remind that Dagji had appealed to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Internal Affairs on behalf of his organization in May 2015 with the request to remove the houses located near the St. Karapet Monastery in the Yukareyongal village of Mush and restore the monastery.