In Istanbul except the Greek Minority also lives Armenian and Jew which are officially
recognised minority groups from Lausanne treaty of peace since 1923.
recognised minority groups from Lausanne treaty of peace since 1923.
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| index / minorities (other minorities in Istanbul) |
Armenian Minority of Istanbul
| Armenian Minority of Istanbul Have an estimated population of 40,000 to 70,000 (the Hamshenis are not included) The majority belong to the Armenian Apostolic faith, with much smaller numbers of Armenian Catholics and Armenian Evangelicals. |
| As for the remaining Armenians in the Eastern parts of the country, they found refuge by 1917–1918 in the Caucasus and eventually within the areas controlled by the newly established Democratic Republic of Armenia and never returned to their original homes in Eastern Turkey (composed of the 6 vilayets, namely (Erzurum, Van, Bitlis, Diyarbekir, Mamûretü'l-Azîz, and Sivas). |
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brief
The present Armenian population is estimated between 40,000 and 70,000
mostly living in Istanbul and the environs. Even the small number of actual
Turkish Armenians living in Turkey is diminishing further due to emigration
to Europe, Americas and Australia.
The community is recognized as a separate "millet" in the Turkish system
and has its own religious, cultural, social and educational institutions and its
distinct media. The Turkish Armenian community struggles to keep its own
institutions and schools open and media running, against diminishing
demand due to emigration and quite considerable economic sacrifices.
The Turkish Armenian community is divided into a majority Apostolic
Orthodox Armenians belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church with a
small minority belonging to the Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian
Evangelical Church.
The present Armenian population is estimated between 40,000 and 70,000
mostly living in Istanbul and the environs. Even the small number of actual
Turkish Armenians living in Turkey is diminishing further due to emigration
to Europe, Americas and Australia.
The community is recognized as a separate "millet" in the Turkish system
and has its own religious, cultural, social and educational institutions and its
distinct media. The Turkish Armenian community struggles to keep its own
institutions and schools open and media running, against diminishing
demand due to emigration and quite considerable economic sacrifices.
The Turkish Armenian community is divided into a majority Apostolic
Orthodox Armenians belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church with a
small minority belonging to the Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian
Evangelical Church.
Presently, the Armenian community in Istanbul has 17 schools, 17 cultural and social organizations, three
newspapers called Agos, Jamanak and Marmara, two sports clubs, named Şişlispor and Taksimspor, and
two health establishments as well as numerous religious foundations set up to support these activities.
The Armenians in Turkey used to be active in Turkish politics. The Turkish-Armenian Sarkis ”Aghparik”
Cherkezian and Aram Pehlivanyan (Nickname: Ahmet Saydan) played a pivotal role in the founding of the
Turkish Communist Party. There used to be Armenian activists in many other Turkish political parties as
well. However no Armenian has been elected as Member of Parliament to the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey since 1960.
Hrant Dink, the Turkish-Armenian journalist, writer and political activist, and the chief editor and publisher
of Agos had carved himself a position of that of a very prominent figure for conveying the ideas and
aspirations of the Armenian community in Turkey not only for Turkish-Armenians but for many Armenians
worldwide. His newspaper Agos had played an important role in presenting Armenian historical
grievances through publishing of articles and opinions in the Turkish language addressed to the Turkish
public opinion. His assassination[33] in front of his newspaper offices on January 19, 2007 turned into an
occasion for expression of national grief throughout Turkey and the rallying of great support for the
concerns of the Armenian community in Turkey by the general Turkish public.
newspapers called Agos, Jamanak and Marmara, two sports clubs, named Şişlispor and Taksimspor, and
two health establishments as well as numerous religious foundations set up to support these activities.
The Armenians in Turkey used to be active in Turkish politics. The Turkish-Armenian Sarkis ”Aghparik”
Cherkezian and Aram Pehlivanyan (Nickname: Ahmet Saydan) played a pivotal role in the founding of the
Turkish Communist Party. There used to be Armenian activists in many other Turkish political parties as
well. However no Armenian has been elected as Member of Parliament to the Grand National Assembly of
Turkey since 1960.
Hrant Dink, the Turkish-Armenian journalist, writer and political activist, and the chief editor and publisher
of Agos had carved himself a position of that of a very prominent figure for conveying the ideas and
aspirations of the Armenian community in Turkey not only for Turkish-Armenians but for many Armenians
worldwide. His newspaper Agos had played an important role in presenting Armenian historical
grievances through publishing of articles and opinions in the Turkish language addressed to the Turkish
public opinion. His assassination[33] in front of his newspaper offices on January 19, 2007 turned into an
occasion for expression of national grief throughout Turkey and the rallying of great support for the
concerns of the Armenian community in Turkey by the general Turkish public.
Jewish Minority of Istanbul
| Jewish Minority of Turkey Turkey after Iran, hosts the second most populous Jewish population -mostly 81% Sefarad- within it's borders. Jews in Turkey mostly resides in Istanbul (about 17.000), in Izmir (2.000+)and other places such as Ankara, Bursa, Kirklareli, Adana etc. |
| The history of the Jews in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey covers the 2,400 years that Jews have lived in what is now Turkey. There have been Jewish communities in Asia Minor since at least the 5th century BCE and many Spanish and Portuguese Jews expelled from Spain were welcomed to the Ottoman Empire (including regions part of modern Turkey) in the late 15th century. Despite emigration during the 20th century, modern day Turkey continues to have a small Jewish population. |
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The troubled history of Turkey during the 20th century
and the process of transforming the old Ottoman
empire into a modern Western nation state after 1923
however, had a negative effect on the size of all
remaining minorities, including the Jews.
After 1933, a new law put into effect in Nazi Germany
for mandatory retirement of officials from non-Aryan
race. Thus, the law required all the Jewish scientists in
Germany to be fired. Unemployed scientists led by
Albert Einstein formed an association in Switzerland.
and the process of transforming the old Ottoman
empire into a modern Western nation state after 1923
however, had a negative effect on the size of all
remaining minorities, including the Jews.
After 1933, a new law put into effect in Nazi Germany
for mandatory retirement of officials from non-Aryan
race. Thus, the law required all the Jewish scientists in
Germany to be fired. Unemployed scientists led by
Albert Einstein formed an association in Switzerland.
Professor Schwartz, the general secretary of the association, met with the Turkish Minister of Education in
order to provide jobs for 34 Jewish scientists in Turkish universities especially in Istanbul University.
However, the planned deportation of Jews from East Thrace and the associated anti-Jewish pogrom in
1934 was one of the events that caused insecurity among the Turkish Jews.
The effect of the 1942 Varlık Vergisi ("Wealth Tax") was the greatest on non-Muslims – who still controlled
the largest portion of the young republics wealth – even though in principle it was directed against all
wealthy Turkish citizens. The "wealth tax" is still remembered as the "catastrophe" among the non-Muslims
of Turkey and it had probably the most detrimental effect on the numbers of the Jewish community. Many
people unable to pay the taxes were sent to labor camps and about 30,000 Jews emigrated.[30] The tax
was seen as a racist attempt to diminish the economic power of minorities in Turkey.
The present size of the Jewish Community is estimated at around 26,000 according to the Jewish Virtual
Library. The vast majority live in Istanbul, with a community of about 2,500 in İzmir and other smaller
groups located in Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Çanakkale, Iskenderun and Kirklareli. Sephardic Jews make up
approximately 96% of Turkey's Jewish population, while the rest are primarily Ashkenazi Jews.
Turkish Jews are still legally represented by the Hakham Bashi, the Chief Rabbi. Rabbi Ishak Haleva, is
assisted by a religious Council made up of a Rosh Bet Din and three Hahamim. Thirty-five Lay
Counselors look after the secular affairs of the Community and an Executive Committee of fourteen, the
president of which must be elected from among the Lay Counselors, runs the daily affairs.
In 2001, the Jewish Museum of Turkey was founded by the Quincentennial Foundation, an organisation
established in 1982 consisting of 113 Turkish citizens, both Jews and Muslims, to commemorate the five-
hundredth anniversary of the arrival of the Sephardic Jews to the Ottoman Empire
order to provide jobs for 34 Jewish scientists in Turkish universities especially in Istanbul University.
However, the planned deportation of Jews from East Thrace and the associated anti-Jewish pogrom in
1934 was one of the events that caused insecurity among the Turkish Jews.
The effect of the 1942 Varlık Vergisi ("Wealth Tax") was the greatest on non-Muslims – who still controlled
the largest portion of the young republics wealth – even though in principle it was directed against all
wealthy Turkish citizens. The "wealth tax" is still remembered as the "catastrophe" among the non-Muslims
of Turkey and it had probably the most detrimental effect on the numbers of the Jewish community. Many
people unable to pay the taxes were sent to labor camps and about 30,000 Jews emigrated.[30] The tax
was seen as a racist attempt to diminish the economic power of minorities in Turkey.
The present size of the Jewish Community is estimated at around 26,000 according to the Jewish Virtual
Library. The vast majority live in Istanbul, with a community of about 2,500 in İzmir and other smaller
groups located in Adana, Ankara, Bursa, Çanakkale, Iskenderun and Kirklareli. Sephardic Jews make up
approximately 96% of Turkey's Jewish population, while the rest are primarily Ashkenazi Jews.
Turkish Jews are still legally represented by the Hakham Bashi, the Chief Rabbi. Rabbi Ishak Haleva, is
assisted by a religious Council made up of a Rosh Bet Din and three Hahamim. Thirty-five Lay
Counselors look after the secular affairs of the Community and an Executive Committee of fourteen, the
president of which must be elected from among the Lay Counselors, runs the daily affairs.
In 2001, the Jewish Museum of Turkey was founded by the Quincentennial Foundation, an organisation
established in 1982 consisting of 113 Turkish citizens, both Jews and Muslims, to commemorate the five-
hundredth anniversary of the arrival of the Sephardic Jews to the Ottoman Empire
Ελληνικές κοινότητες___
Κωνσταντινούπολη
Greek Communities in Turkey___
other minorities
