Armenian man buried in Turkey as Muslim to be reburied as Christian

The body of an Armenian-origin citizen, who was buried in a Muslim cemetery due to financial problems, will be transferred from the cemetery to an Armenian cemetery after the required procedures are completed, Hurriyet reports. 

On June 17, 85-year-old Harutyun Kamparisoğlu passed away while staying in a shelter, weekly Agos reported last week. Üsküdar Surp Garabed Church Foundation approved Kamparisoğlu’s burial with Islamic customs since the man’s daughter Anna Taşçıyan could not afford the 8,000-Turkish Lira funeral cost. Kambarisoğlu’s funeral prayer was performed in Göztepe Mosque on June 18, and his body was buried in Ümraniye Hekimbaşı Cemetery with Islamic prayers. 

The Armenian Patriarchate said they did not know about the incident but added that if they had known, they would have paid for the funeral expenses.

“If we had known about the situation, we would have done whatever was necessary and would not have let such an incident occur. How the authorities conducted such a burial is another matter of interest,” Acting Patriarch Archishob Aram Ateşyan said.