WebTalks
A Chance for Reconciliation in Diyarbakir
Bilgin Ayata
Bilgin Ayata explores the significance of restoring Diyarbakir’s Armenian Church of St. Giragos.
A Chance for Reconciliation in Diyarbakir
Left to ruin after the Armenian Genocide, St. Giragos--once one of the largest Armenian churches in the Middle East--reclaimed its title with the support of the city’s Kurdish mayor and funding from the Armenian diaspora and reopened as place of worship after undergoing major renovations in 2011. At the time this was seen by many as a hopeful sign of reconciliation. Dr. Bilgin Ayata uses the case of the church in Diyarbakir as a possible example of how the Turkish government could confront the neglected Armenian history and presence in Turkey.
Produced by AGBU WebTalks in partnership with the Zoryan Institute.