Armenian deputy calls on Turkish ministry to save crumbling historic synagogue
Garo Paylan, Diyarbakir deputy for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and a member of the Armenian community in Turkey, said that a historic synagogue in the Kurdish-majority district of Cermik is in danger of collapse.
HDP'li Garo Paylan, Diyarbakır’da bulunan, 15’inci yüzyıldan kalma havrada inceleme yaptı.
— ANKA Haber Ajansı (@ankahabera) September 27, 2022
Paylan, Kültür ve Turizm Bakanı Mehmet Nuri Ersoy’a, “Anadolu’da kalan son Musevilerin havralarından birini, bir an önce koruma altına alın” çağrısı yaptı.https://t.co/BHEmUPfZh5 pic.twitter.com/29yk4jct41
After visiting the site of the synagogue that was built in the 15th century, Paylan called on the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism to take steps for the protection of the site.
He told ANKA News Agency that a Jewish community used to live in the city till 60 years ago, and the only thing left of them is the synagogue which is currently used as a storage house.
"Jews came to this synagogue for worship for hundreds of years. It is about to collapse. It can barely stand," he said.
"One can still see the seat of prayer. This synagogue should urgently be brought under protection by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. I'm calling on the minister to take urgent steps for the protection of the synagogue that is one of the few remaining Jewish synagogues in Anatolia."
Paylan, who has been systematically visiting historic sites in Turkey to assess the situation surrounding abandoned edifices of non-Muslim communities, particularly places of worship, earlier reported on the Monastery of Seven Churches in Van.
