Turkey doesn’t allow lawyers to study land ownership logs on Sis Catholicosate lawsuit

WASHINGTON DC, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS. Due to the special regulations adopted in 1983 and 2001, the Government of Turkey refuses to allow studying the Armenian land ownership logs. Cem Sofuoglu, Turkish human rights lawyer and local counsel representing the Catholicosate of Cilicia stated this at the course of the press conference held earlier today at the National Press Club to discuss their lawsuit against the Turkish Government seeking the return of the historic seat of the Catholicosate, located in Sis (currently Kozan), one-time capital of Cilician Armenia.

As reports “Armenpress”, among other things, Cem Sofuoglu underscored: “Frankly speaking, we don’t know how big the territory is, as we don’t have access to the logs. As far I can assume, taking into account the photos and paying tow visits to the territory, it is very big.”

Previously it was reported that the Catholicosate of Cilicia demands its Property in Sis from the Turkish Constitutional Court. On Tuesday 28 April 2015, the attorney of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Turkey submitted a brief to the Constitutional Court in Turkey, requesting the return of its Centre in Sis (Kozan).

Convinced that recognition of the Genocide and compensation should go together, His Holiness Aram I, on the year of the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, has filed a lawsuit at the Turkish Constitutional Court for the return of the Spiritual Centre of the Catholicosate in Sis. In initiating this effort, His Holiness is setting a precedent for the descendants of the martyrs to reclaim their family belongings.

Since 2012, His Holiness Aram I has presided over a committee of Turkish and international human rights lawyers, preparing the current litigation. The committee will explain the lawsuit through two press conferences. The first will be held on Wednesday 29 April in Washington DC and the second soon after in Geneva.

The Catholicosate of Cilicia settled in Sis, the former capital of the Cilician Kindgom, in1295, after moving from several places due to the political uncertainties in the region. In 1921, following the 1915 Genocide, the Ottoman authorities ordered Catholicos Sahak II Khabayan and the clergy to vacate the location within two days. The Catholicos and the clergy left the monastery in Sis, taking with them very few objects, such as the basin pot for the preparation of the holy muron, some manuscripts and liturgical items. After moving between Jerusalem, Aleppo, Damascus and Cyprus, in 1930 the Catholicosate settled in Antelias.

Catholicosate of Cilicia leaders and lawyers outline lawsuit seeking Turkey's return of historic Christian site