Title: Armenians in Turkey Content: Armenians in Turkey (Armenian: Հայերը Թուրքիայում, Hayery T’urk’iayum) are ethnic Armenians living Turkey and one of the indigenous peoples of Turkey. Until the Armenian genocide of 1915, most of the Armenian population of Turkey lived in the eastern parts of the country that Armenians call Western Armenia. ==Geographical distribution== === Istanbul === Of the 60,000 Christian Armenians living in Turkey, 45,000 live in Istanbul."Foreign Ministry: 89,000 minorities live in Turkey". Today's Zaman. "The Foreign Ministry has prepared a report identifying the number of minorities living in Turkey and their houses of worship. According to the report, Turkey hosts 89,000 minorities, including 60,000 Armenians, 25,000 Jews and 3,000 to 4,000 Greeks. Containing detailed statistics about the minority groups in Turkey, the report reveals that 45,000 of approximately 60,000 Armenians reside in İstanbul." Today, in the Kumkapı quarter in Fatih, Istanbul, the various churches Armenian, Greek Orthodox and Syriac as well as the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey. In some ways, the quarter has even regained its reputation as an Armenian quarter. Yet, the majority of Armenians residing in Kumkapı today are immigrants from Armenia, while of the original Armenian population, only a few individuals still call Kumkapı their home."Managing the difficult balance between tourism and authenticity: Kumkapı". Hürriyet Daily News. "Today, the various churches Armenian, Greek Orthodox and Syriac as well as the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, which are situated in Kumkapı, immediately remind the visitor of this multi-ethnic past. In some ways, the quarter has even regained its reputation as an Armenian quarter. Yet, the majority of Armenians residing in Kumkapı today are immigrants from Armenia, while of the original Armenian population, only a few individuals still call Kumkapı their home." The Armenian population in Turkey, which makes up the largest Christian community in the country, "resembles an iceberg melting in the sea" with its some 60,000 members, the newly elected Armenian Orthodox Patriarch of Istanbul has said."Armenian population of Turkey dwindling rapidly: Patriarch". Hürriyet Daily News. "The Armenian population in Turkey, which makes up the largest Christian community in the country, “resembles an iceberg melting in the sea” with its some 60,000 members, the newly elected Armenian Orthodox Patriarch of Istanbul has said." At present, the Armenian community in Istanbul has 20 schools (including the Getronagan Armenian High School), 17 cultural and social organizations, three newspapers (Agos, Jamanak, Marmara), two sports clubs (Şişlispor, Taksimspor). === Dersim === According to Mihran Prgiç Gültekin, the head of the Union of Dersim Armenians, around 75% of the population in villages of Dersim are "converted Armenians.""Mihran Gultekin: Dersim Armenians Re-Discovering Their Ancestral Roots". Massis Post. "75 percent of Dersim population is converted Armenians, founder of “Union of Dersim Armenians” Mihran Gultekin told reporters in Yerevan (Dersim is a region of eastern Turkey, which includes Tunceli Province, Elazig Province, and Bingöl Province).""Documentary on Islamized Armenians of Dersim Screened at Columbia University". Armenian Weekly. "Mihran Prgiç Gültekin, the head of the Union of Dersim Armenians, estimates that about 75% of the village’s population are “converted Armenians." The greater part of hidden Armenians of Dersim, according Gultekin, is afraid that the nationalist regime may be back and may repress them. Currently over 200 families have announce their Armenian descent in Dersim, Gultekin said."Mihran Gultekin: Dersim Armenians Re-Discovering Their Ancestral Roots". Massis Post. "The greater part of hidden Armenians of Dersim, according Gultekin, is afraid that the nationalist regime may be back and may repress them. Currently over 200 families have announce their Armenian descent in Dersim, Gultekin said." In April 2013, Aram Ateşyan, the acting Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul, stated maybe that 90% of Tunceli (Dersim)'s population is of Armenian origin."Tunceli'nin yüzde 90'ı dönme Ermeni'dir". İnternet Haber. "Erkam Tufan, “Tunceli civarında çok fazla sayıda Kripto Ermeni olduğu söyleniyor bu doğru mudur?” şeklindeki sorusuna Ateşyan şu yanıtı verdi: [...] “Doğrudur Tunceli'nin yüzde 90'ı belki dönme Ermeni'dir. Neden derseniz 30 yaşlarında bir çocuk geldi bana ve benim köküm Ermeni dedi. Ben dönmek istiyorum dedi. Ben de ispatla dedim ispatlayamadı, kabul etmedim. Ama inatla gitti geldi, vazgeçmedi. Gitti, geldi rahatsız etti beni, daha sonra babası aradı. Beyefendi dedi ben belediye çalışıyorum emekli olayım bende İstanbul'a gelip döneceğim. Buradaki halkın yüzde 90'ı Ermeni'dir, lütfen kabul et dedi. Bende kabul ettim ders aldı, vaftiz oldu, kilisemizin üyesi oldu.”" In 2015, a group of citizens in Dersim (Tunceli) established the Dersim Armenians and Alevis Friendship Association (DERADOST). The opening ceremony of the association was attended by Hüseyin Tunç, then Deputy Mayor of Tunceli, Yusuf Cengiz, President of Tunceli Chamber of Commerce and Industry, representatives of non-governmental organisations and some citizens."Tunceli'de Ermeni ve Alevi dostluk derneği kurdu". Hürriyet. "Tunceli'de bir grup vatandaş, Dersimli Ermeniler ve Aleviler Dostluk Derneği (DERADOST) kurdu. Moğultay Mahallesi Ata Sokak’taki bir iş hanında kurulan derneğin açılışına Tunceli Belediye Başkan Yardımcısı Hüseyin Tunç, Tunceli Ticaret ve Sanayi Odası Başkanı Yusuf Cengiz, sivil toplum kuruluşu temsilcileri ile bazı vatandaşlar katıldı.""Tunceli'de Ermeni ve Alevi Dostluk Derneği Kurdu". Haberler. "Tunceli'de bir grup vatandaş, Dersimli Ermeniler ve Aleviler Dostluk Derneği (DERADOST) kurdu. Moğultay Mahallesi Ata Sokak'taki bir iş hanında kurulan derneğin açılışına Tunceli Belediye Başkan Yardımcısı Hüseyin Tunç, Tunceli Ticaret ve Sanayi Odası Başkanı Yusuf Cengiz, sivil toplum kuruluşu temsilcileri ile bazı vatandaşlar katıldı." On the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, president of the association Serkan Sariataş said that the state should face its past history as soon as possible."DERADOST başkanından Erdoğan ile Davutoğlu'na Ermeni Soykırımı çağrısı". Ermeni Haber Ajansı. "Ermeni Soykırımı'nın 100. yılında Dersimli Ermeniler ve Aleviler Dostluk Derneği (DERADOST) Başkanı Serkan Sariataş, devletin bir an önce geçmiş tarihiyle yüzleşmesi gerektiğini söyledi." In 2015, 12 crypto-Armenians from Dersim baptized in Istanbul."12 crypto- Armenians from Dersim baptized in Istanbul". Hürriyet Daily News. "Twelve Armenians from Dersim, an older name of the eastern Turkish province of Tunceli, were baptized in an Armenian church in Istanbul on May 9, daily Agos has reported." Through the 20th century, an many of Armenians living in the mountainous region of Dersim had converted to Alevism. During the Armenian genocide, many of the Armenians in the region were saved by their Kurdish neighbors. === Muş ===  == Notable people == List of Armenians born or originating in Turkey and the Ottoman Empire The persons on the list are classified into three separate categories: * Christian Armenian * Muslim Armenian * Hamsheni (also Muslim Armenians) === Politicians === * Hagop Kazazian Pasha (1836–1891) Christian Armenian, minister of finance and privy treasury in Ottoman Empire * Gabriel Noradunkyan (1852–1936) Christian Armenian, minister of trade and foreign affairs in Ottoman Empire * Armen Garo (1872–1923) Christian Armenian, activist and politician, was leading member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation for more than two decades * Mesut Yılmaz (1947–2020) Hamsheni, politician who served in ministerial positions such as the prime minister, minister of culture and tourism, the minister of state and deputy prime minister * Mekertich Portukalian (1848–1921) Christian Armenian, liberal politician, teacher and journalist founder of Armenakan Party * Garo Paylan (b. 1972) Christian Armenian, politician and member of parliament * Murat Karayalçın (b. 1943) Hamsheni, politician who served as minister of foreign affairs, deputy prime minister, mayor of Ankara and the founder of the SHP * Selina Özuzun Doğan (b. 1977) Christian Armenian, politician and member of parliament * Alper Taş (b. 1967) Hamsheni, socialist politician and former leader of Left Party * Markar Esayan (1969–2020) half Christian Armenian, politician and member of parliament * Krikor Zohrab (1861–1915) Christian Armenian, politician, influential writer and lawyer === Popular culture === * Diran Kelekian (1862–1915) Christian Armenian, journalist and professor * Khachatur Malumian (1863–1915) Christian Armenian, journalist and political activist * Bîmen Dergazaryan (1873–1943) Christian Armenian, composer and lyricist * Komitas Vardapet (1869–1935) Christian Armenian, priest, musicologist, composer, arranger, singer and choirmaster who is considered the founder of the Armenian national school of music * Rupen Zartarian (1874–1915) Christian Armenian, writer, educator and political activist * Bedros Keresteciyan (1840–1909) Christian Armenian, journalist, translator, and writer of the first etymology dictionary of the Turkish language * Daniel Varoujan (1884–1915) Christian Armenian, notable poet * Yervant Odian (1869–1926) Christian Armenian, satirist, journalist and playwright * Krikor Torosian (1884–1915) Christian Armenian, satirical writer, journalist and publisher * Güllü Agop (1840–1902) Christian Armenian, actor, founder of modern Turkish theatre * Armen Dorian (1892–1915) Christian Armenian, poet, teacher and editor * Ruben Sevak (1886–1915) Christian Armenian, poet, prose- writer and doctor * Hagop Baronian (1843–1891) Christian Armenian, writer, playwright, journalist and educator * Rober Hatemo (b. 1974) Christian Armenian, singer * Özcan Alper (b. 1975) Hamsheni, director and screenwriter * Şahan Arzruni (b. 1943) Christian Armenian, pianist * Zahrad (1924–2007) Christian Armenian, promient poet * Hrant Dink (1954–2007) Christian Armenian, former editor of the weekly Agos * Ruhi Su (1912–1985) Muslim Armenian, opera singer, folk singer and saz virtuoso * Nubar Terziyan (1909–1994) Christian Armenian, promient actor * Adile Naşit (1930–1987) actress, partial Christian Armenian descent * Hayko Cepkin (b. 1978) Christian Armenian, musician * Ara Güler (1928–2018) Christian Armenian, journalist, photojournalist and writer * Aydoğan Topal (b. 1982) half Hamsheni, singer * Sami Hazinses (1925–2002) Christian Armenian, film actor, composer and lyricist * Cem Karaca (1945–2004) half Christian Armenian, rock musician * Kamer Sadık (1911–1986) Christian Armenian, cinema actor * Behçet Gülas (b. 1975) Hamsheni, musician and singer * Danyal Topatan (1916–1975) Christian Armenian, theater and television actor * Fedon (b. 1946) half Christian Armenian, singer, tavern music commentator * Jaklin Çarkçı (b. 1958) Christian Armenian, mezzo-soprano * Masis Aram Gözbek (b. 1987) Christian Armenian, conductor of Bosphorus Jazz Choir * Sevan Nişanyan (b. 1956) writer and linguist, an atheist but Christian Armenian origin * Kenan Pars (1920–2008) Christian Armenian, promient actor === Armenian fedayis and millitary leaders === * Hampartsoum Boyadjian (1860–1915) Christian Armenian, Hunchakian fedayi * Arabo (1863–1893) Christian Armenian, Dashnak fedayi * Armenak Yekarian (1870–1926) Christian Armenian, Armenakan fedayi * Kevork Chavush (1870–1907) Christian Armenian, Dashnak fedayi * Sebastatsi Murad (1874—1918) Christian Armenian, Hunchakian fedayi * Andranik Ozanian (1865–1927) Christian Armenian, Dashnak fedayi, national hero Other millitary * Cihan Alptekin (1947–1972) Hamsheni, militant, revolutionary, political activist who was leader of left-wing organisations such as People's Liberation Army of Turkey and Revolutionary Youth Federation of Turkey * Sarkis Torosyan (1891–1954) Christian Armenian, captain who awarded with a medal by Enver Pasha, however, later changed sides and joined the struggle against the Ottomans === Other === * Daron Acemoglu (b. 1967) Christian Armenian, economist, winner of the 2005 John Bates Clark Medal * Calouste Gulbenkian (1869–1955) Christian Armenian, businessman and philanthropist who was born in Üsküdar, Istanbul