On the night of July 7–8, a person climbed over the wall of the Surp Garabet Armenian Cemetery in Üsküdar and damaged six graves and a fountain. After the foundation's board of directors notified the police, one person was taken into custody. The suspect, Muharrem Kün, was arrested following his court appearance.
In his statement to the prosecutor, the 55-year-old defendant, Muharrem Kün, admitted to the attack, stating that he was homeless, had not acted on anyone's instructions, and was remorseful.
An indictment was prepared against the defendant under the Article 153/1 of the Turkish Penal Code for the offense of damaging places of worship and cemeteries. The relevant provision states: "Any person who causes damage by demolishing, destroying, or breaking places of worship, their annexes, property therein, graves, structures built upon them, facilities within cemeteries, or structures built for the protection of cemeteries shall be punished with imprisonment for one to four years."
In a press statement, the Surp Garabet Church Foundation of Üsküdar announced that repairs to the damaged graves and fountain has been completed.
The indictment, prepared by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on July 16, was submitted to the Istanbul Anatolian 46th Criminal Court of First Instance and accepted by the court. The defendant will appear before the judge on August 20.
