Istanbul prosecutors seek up to five years for man who ripped off cross from Armenian church

Duvar English

Istanbul prosecutors are seeking up to five years and four months in prison for an assailant who ripped off a cross outside Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Armenian Church in the Kuzguncuk neighborhood of Üsküdar district in late May.

The assailant named Mazlum S. is facing charges of “damaging houses of worship.”

The identity of the suspect was revealed after a security footage emerged of him ripping down the cross on May 23. Before taking down the cross, he was seen closely looking at the cameras.

Istanbul police department said on May 28 that the assailant was detained at his house.

“When asked why he committed this crime, the suspect said it was not something he had planned and he committed this crime following a momentary burst of anger. Our analysis has shown that he has several criminal records,” the police said in a statement.

This incident was one of the latest attacks against Christian sites in the city

On May 8, an identified individual set the entrance door of Dzınunt Surp Asdvadzadzni Armenian Orthodox Church in the Bakırköy district on fire. The fire was quickly extinguished and an investigation was launched into the incident.

Cross ripped off from Armenian church in Istanbul

Man attempts to burn down Istanbul church, blames Christianity 'for spread of coronavirus'