[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 131 (Monday, August 7, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11791-S11793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 160--MARKING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANTI-GREEK POGROM
IN TURKEY ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1955
Mr. D'AMATO submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary.
S. Res. 160
Whereas, in September 1955, there existed a Greek minority
population of 100,000 in Istanbul, Turkey;
Whereas, on the night of September 6-7, 1955, a pogrom
against the Greek community began in Istanbul;
Whereas, anti-Greek rioters attacked, pillaged, gutted and
destroyed more than 2,000 Greek homes, 4,200 Greek shops and
stores, 73 Greek Orthodox churches, 52 Greek schools, eight
Greek cemeteries, all three major Greek newspaper plants, and
dozens of Greek factories, hotels, restaurants and warehouses
in Istanbul;
Whereas, 15 Greeks were killed in the pogrom or died
subsequently, and 32 were seriously injured;
Whereas, as many as 200 women were raped by rioters;
Whereas, the U.S. Consul General in Istanbul reported that
police stood idly by or cheered on the rioting mobs;
Whereas, the State Department received confirmation of
``elaborate advanced planning for widespread destruction of
the property of the indigenous Greek community,'' involving
careful preparations by many individuals;
Whereas, American journalist Frederick Sondern, Jr.,
writing at the time for Readers Digest, described the events
of that night as ``. . . one of the wildest eruptions of
mob fury and hysteria in modern times . . .'';
Whereas, homes of Greek officers stationed at NATO
headquarters in the Turkish city of Izmir were also attacked
and destroyed;
Whereas, rioters attacked and burned down the Greek
Consulate in Izmir and the Greek Pavilion at the Izmir
International festival;
Whereas, Turkish authorities failed at the time to convict
a single rioter, out of thousands, for any crime committed
during the pogrom;
Whereas, five years later, after a military coup in Turkey,
the former Prime Minister and Acting Foreign Minister at the
time of the pogrom were charged with, and convicted of,
numerous criminal actions, including the instigation of the
anti-Greek riots;
Whereas, the pogrom marked the beginning of the end of the
Greek community's presence in Istanbul, numbering about 2,000
in 1995;
Whereas, September 6, 1995 will mark the 40th Anniversary
of the pogrom; Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the Sense of the Senate that the
President should (1) Take all appropriate steps to observe
and commemorate the loss of life and property, and the
numerous injuries and offenses, which took place during the
pogrom by proclaiming September 6, 1995 as a day of
remembrance for the victims of these attacks; and
(2) Urge all Americans to honor the victims of the pogrom
in the appropriate manner.
Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution
commemorating the anti-Greek pogrom that took place in Istanbul and
Izmir, Turkey, on the night of September 6-7, 1955. With the coming
40th anniversary of this horrible event, this resolution is meant to
commemorate the tragic losses and horrific destruction of these riots
and to honor its victims.
In September 1955, the Greek minority population in Istanbul numbered
over 100,000 people. Today, slightly over 2,000 remain. This pogrom
marked the beginning of the end of the Greek community's presence in
Istanbul and became ``* * * one of the wildest eruptions of mob fury
and hysteria in modern times * * *'' as the journalist Frederick
Sondern, Jr., writing at the time in the Readers Digest, described.
Rioters killed 16 Greeks, and wounded 32 more. And it is reported
that as many as 200 Greek women were raped on this one night.
Moreover, anti-Greek rioters wantonly attacked, pillaged, gutted, and
destroyed more than 2,000 Greek homes, 4,200 Greek shops and stores, 73
Greek Orthodox churches, 52 Greek schools, 8 Greek cemeteries, all 3
major Greek newspaper plants, and dozens of Greek factories, hotels,
restaurants, and warehouses in Istanbul. At the time, the World Council
of Churches placed the damages at $150 million. Other sources reported
the damage to be double that amount.
Similar attacks occurred in Izmir, Turkey at the same time when
rioters attacked and burned down the Greek Consulate and the Greek
Pavilion at the Izmir International Fair, as well as attacking the
homes of several Greek officers stationed at the NATO headquarters
there.
During this time, the U.S. State Department reported extensively on
the pogrom, and described the destruction as ``extremely widespread,''
adding ``* * * only a very small percentage of community property
appears to have escaped molestation.''
Mr. President, I am submitting this resolution so that the victims of
this pogrom are not forgotten and the perpetrators know that their
vicious attacks will not pass into history without condemnation and
hopefully redress, to the extent that this could be done. Just as
pogroms in the former Russian empire, during and after the Russian
revolution ended the lives of thousands of Jews, these pogroms cannot
be forgotten or denied. History must remember.
Mr. President, at this time, I ask unanimous consent that dispatches
from the U.S. State Department concerning the pogrom, as well as a
listing of the deaths during the riots, be made a part of the Record.
These documents were reprinted in the 1992 Helsinki report, ``Denying
Human Rights & Ethnic Identity: The Greeks of Turkey.''
I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution and honor
the victims of this despicable act.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Appendix B
From: Amcongen, Istanbul.
To: The Department of State, Washington.
Subject: Damage caused to Greek Orthodox community
establishments during the September 6 Riots.
A survey of the damage inflicted on public establishments
of the Greek Community of Istanbul during the rioting on the
night of September 6-7 shows that the destruction caused has
been extremely widespread. In fact, only a very small
percentage of community property appears to have escaped
molestation. Although there are as yet no figures available
assessing the damage sustained, the number of establishments
attacked and the nature of the destruction caused in the
course of the night under reference convey a clear picture of
the scope of the devastation. In most cases the assault on
these establishments involved a thorough wrecking of
installations, furniture, equipment, desecration of holy
shrines and relics, and looting. In certain instances serious
damage was inflicted on the buildings themselves by fire.
Information received from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
shows that of the 95 houses of worship listed on the books of
the Archbishopric of Istanbul 61 were either completely or
partially damaged. Eight of them became the victims of
flames. The religious edifices thus affected are identified
as follows:
1. Aghia Triada, Taksim--Wrecked, pillaged and destroyed by
fire.
2. St. Constantin, Kalyoncu Kulluk--Wrecked, pillaged and
destroyed by fire.
3. Motamorphosia, Cemetery of Sisli--Wrecked and pillaged.
4. Sotiros Christou, Galata--Wrecked and pillaged.
5. Saint Nicolas, Galata--Wrecked and pillaged.
6. Saint Jean, Galata--Wrecked and pillaged.
7. Saint Dimitri, Kurtulus--Wrecked and pillaged.
8. Saint Athanase, Kurtulus--Wrecked and pillaged.
9. Saint Elephtere, Kurtulus--Wrecked and pillaged.
[[Page S 11792]]
10. Ivanghelistrias, Kurtulus--Wrecked and pillaged.
11. Ghenethlion tis Theotocou, Besiktas--Wrecked and
pillaged.
12. Saint Phocas, Ortakoy--Wrecked and pillaged.
13. Saint Dimitri, Kurucesme--Wrecked and pillaged.
14. Ton Taxiarchon, together with residence of Bishop,
Arnavutkoy--Wrecked and destroyed by fire.
15. Saint Haralambos, Bebek--Wrecked and pillaged.
16. Evanghelismos tis Theotokou, Boyacikoy--Wrecked and
pillaged.
17. Taxiarchon, Istinye--Wrecked and pillaged.
18. Saint Nicolas, Yenikoy--Wrecked and pillaged.
19. Saint Paraskevi, Tarabya and residence of Bishop--
Wrecked and destroyed by fire.
20. Saint Paraskevi, Buyukdere--Wrecked and pillaged.
21. Saint Jean, Yeni Mahalle--Wrecked and pillaged.
22. Saint Constantin, Pasabagco--Wrecked and pillaged.
23. Genethlion tis Theotocou, Kandilli--Wrecked and
pillaged.
24. Saint George, Cangelkoy--Wrecked and pillaged.
25. Prophe Ilia, Uakudar--Wrecked and pillaged.
26. Agia Triada, with residence of Bishop--Kadikoy--
Wrecked, pillaged and destroyed by fire.
27. Saint Georges, Kadikoy--Wrecked and pillaged.
28. St. Jean Chrysostome, Kadikoy--Wrecked and pillaged.
29. Saint Ignace, Kadikoy--Wrecked and pillaged.
30. Saint Dimitri, Buyukada--Wrecked and pillaged.
31. Dormition of the Virgin, Buyukada--Wrecked and
pillaged.
32. Metamorphosis tou Christou, Buyukada--Wrecked and
pillaged.
33. Saint Georges, monastery, Heybeliada--Wrecked and
pillaged.
34. Saint Spiridon, monastery, Heybeliada--Wrecked and
pillaged.
35. Zoodochos Pighi, Balikli--Wrecked and destroyed by
fire.
36. Genethlion tis Theotocou, Beligradiou, Yedikule--
Wrecked and pillaged.
37. Saint Constantin, Samatya--Wrecked and pillaged.
38. Saint Paraskevi, Samatya--Wrecked and pillaged.
39. Saint Georges, Samatya--Wrecked and pillaged.
40. Saint Minas, Samatya--Wrecked and pillaged.
41. Dormition of the Vergin, Exi Harmara--Wrecked and
pillaged.
42. Saint Theodore, Langa--Wrecked and pillaged.
43. Saint Elpida, Kumigapi--Wrecked and pillaged.
44. Saint Kiriaki, Kumigapi--Wrecked and pillaged.
45. Saint Nicolas, Topkapu--Wrecked and pillaged.
46. Saint Georges, Edirnekapu--Wrecked and pillaged.
47. Dormition of the Virgin, Edirnekapu--Wrecked and
pillaged.
48. Another Dormition of the Virgin, Edirnekapu--Wrecked
and pillaged.
49. Taxiarchon, Balat--Wrecked and pillaged.
50. Panaghia tis Soudas, Egrikapu--Wrecked and pillaged.
51. Dormition of the Virgin, Blacherne, Ayvansqray--Wrecked
and pillaged.
52. Saint Dimitri, Xiloportis--Damaged.
53. Dormition of the Virgin, Valinu--Damaged.
54. Saint Jean Prodrome, Valinu, monastery--Wrecked.
55. Saint Georges Potira--Wrecked.
56. Vierge Houchliotisoa, Phanar--Wrecked and pillaged.
57. Saint Nicolas, Cibali--Wrecked and pillaged.
58. Saint Haralambos, Chapel, Cibali--Wrecked and pillaged.
59. Dormition of the Virgin, Vefa--Wrecked and pillaged.
60. Saint Paraskevi, Haskoy--Wrecked and pillaged.
61. Aghici Therapon--Damaged.
In addition to the above religious establishments the
following properties belonging to the Monastery of St. Sinai,
said to contain irreplaceable objects of art of Byzantine
origin and religious relics of great value, apparently, also
suffered serious destruction and pillage:
1. Monastery of St. Georges ti Krimnou, Heybeli Ada.
2. Monastery of St. Georges, Fener.
3. Monastery of St. Georges, Tenikoy.
Reports show that the dependencies of the religious
edifices hit were also not spared and that very serious
damage was inflicted on presbyteries and well-appointed
community meeting quarters, libraries, dispensaries attached
to these establishments.
Among the Greek churches heavily attacked also figures the
church of the Greek Catholic Uniate at Hamal Basi, Bayoglu.
Report has it that the presbytery of the said church and the
congregational school attached thereto were also severely
damaged. As a matter of fact three other Catholic churches
having no connection whatever with the Greek community, are
reported to have also suffered serious damage during the
rioting.
Reports on hand indicate that the rioting crowd hit with
particular frenzy at two important Greek Orthodox community
centers; the central cemetery at Sisli and the cemetery of
the Patriarchs at Balikil. The former sustained particularly
extensive destruction. Crosses and statues were knocked down,
sepulchers and vaults opened and the remains of the dead
removed and dispersed. At Balikli, the sarcophaguses of the
Greek Orthodox Patriarchs were desecrated.
As for the Greek Orthodox clergy itself, considering the
scale and severity of the acts of violence recorded, it
appears that only a relatively few were exposed to the fury
of rioters. According to information given by the
Patriarchate only one aged Orthodox priest, monk Chrysanthos
of Balikli, is believed to have been killed during the
rioting. Since his body has not been recovered he is listed
as missing. It is supposed that he perished during the
burning of his church. The principal dignitaries of the
Orthodox church who were maltreated during the disturbances
and made to suffer indignities are reported to be the
following:
The Metropolitan of New Cesarea, Weaudor.
The Metropolitan of Troy, Bogacikey.
The Metropolitan of Derkos, Therapia.
The Metropolitan of Chalchida, Kadikoy.
Bishop Panphilion, Balikli.
Bishop Ilioupolios, Arnarutkoy.
The Archdeacon of the Patriarchate, Yenikoy.
Extensive damage also seems to have been suffered by the
educational establishments of the Greek community. At least
36 of the 48 schools of the community are reported to have
been more or less seriously damaged. The principal victims
are the Zappeion Girls' College at Taksim and the Megali
Scholi Boys' College of Phanar, both princes of the
community, the Theological School at Heybeli, and the high
schools at Haskoy, Edirne Kapu, Bakirkoy, Gelata, Taksim and
Arnavutkoy. The elaborate dispensary of the Takrim High
School and several public soup kitchens operated in
conjunction with these educational institutions were also
demolished. A list of the schools hit by the rioters is given
below:
1. The Greek Catholic School at Hamal Basi.
2. The Zappeion Girls' College, Taksim.
3. The Megali Scholi Boys College, Phanar.
4. The School of Haskoy.
5. The School of Evanghelistria.
6. The School of Gelata.
7. The School of Ortakoy.
8. The School of St. Constaintin, Beyoglu.
9. The School of Bakirkoy.
10. The School of Boyacikoy.
11. The School of Kurtulus.
12. The School of Yenikoy.
13. The School of Ferikoy.
14. The Theological School of Heybeli Ada.
15. The School at Nane Street.
16. The School of Aynali Cesme.
17. The School of Arnavutkoy.
18. The School of Aghia Triada, Taksim.
19. The School of Bebsk.
20. The School of Besiktas.
21. The School of Kandilli.
22. The School of Cengelkby.
23. The School of Kuzgunouk.
24. The School of Uskudar (Teni Mahole).
25. The School of Xakikoy (Yeldegirmen).
26. The School of Cafer Aga.
27. The School of Balat.
28. The School of Lonca.
29. The School of Edirne Kapu.
30. The School of Samatya.
31. The School of Longa.
32. The School of Buyakdere.
33. The School of Tarabya.
34. The School of Buyuk Ada.
35. The School of Ioakimeion Parthenagogheion.
36. The School of Kentrikon Parthenagogheion.
Efforts are now being made to immediately repair some of
the damage to make possible opening of these schools by the
end of this month. To that effect a preliminary aid of TL
110,000 has been allocated to the Community by the Turkish
authorities. Special appropriations are also expected for the
repair of damaged religious institutions and cemeteries
since, neither the community itself nor the Patriarchate is
in a position to provide adequate funds for the purpose. As
the allocation of such funds will require legislative action,
an emergency relief of TL 200,000 is announced for urgent
repair work.
Though not specifically community property, it might be
appropriate to consider in the present report also the damage
sustained by the Greek language press of Istanbul. All three
principal dailies, the APOYEVMATINI, the TACHYDROMOS and the
EMBROS suffered heavy losses. The first two had both their
offices and printing establishments completely wrecked. In
the case of the EMBROS only its offices were destroyed since
it had no printing press of its own. The APOYEVMATINI
(circulation 10,000), the most heavily hit, managed to resume
publication two weeks after the rioting. Its losses alone are
estimated at half a million lirae. The TACHYDROMOS
(circulation 5,000) has as yet not been able to recuperate
from the blow but is scheduled to appear in the near future.
The EMBROS (circulation 7,000) reappeared a few days after
the disturbances. The weekly OKROIDS (circulation 5,000)
managed to continue publication without interruption though
its offices were also heavily wrecked. Like the EMBROS it has
no printing press of its own.
As pointed out in the opening paragraphs of this report a
monetary assessment of the damage caused to Greek Community
property in the course of the September 6 riot
[[Page S 11793]]
has as yet not been attempted. Very general estimates on the part of
community and church leaders would indicate that it goes into
millions of Turkish liras. The Department will be informed as
soon as a substantive estimate is available.
For the Counsul General.
Betty Carp,
Assistant Attache.
Appendix C: Deaths in 1955 Riots
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manner of death/
Name Age Place source \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Priest] 90 Baloukli.......... Doused with
Chrysanthos Mantas. gasoline and
burned to death.
[Bishop] Gerasimos ........... Baloukli.......... Tortured, beaten,
of Pamphilus. comotose died.
[Bishop] Gennadios 80 Yenikoy........... Beaten, died of
Arabatzoglou.. injuries.
[Priest] Name ........... Edirenkapi........ Disappeared.
unknown.
[Priest] Name ........... Chalke............ Found dead.
unknown.
[Church caretaker] ........... Pasa Bahci........ Was killed inside
Erpapazoglou. church which was
dynamited.
[Caretaker] Name ........... Anadoluhisar...... Was killed at
unknown. shrine there:
Cumhuriyet,
7.IX.55.
Abraham Anavas..... 65 ``Moton'' Store... Was killed in
store:
Cumhuriyet,
8.IX.55.
Olga Kimiades...... 77 ................ Beaten, died of
heart attack:
Huriyet, 8.IX.55.
Thanassis ........... Hatzopoulos Was killed at his
Misiroglou. Passage. store:
Cumhuriyet,
8.IX.55.
Hebe Giolma........ 16 Stegi Ergazomenon. Was abducted,
raped, killed.
Name unknown....... ........... Yeni Cami area.... Person described
as
``disrespectful
Greek'' by
Turkish newspaper
was lynched by
mob: Milliyet,
8.IX.55.
Isaak Uludag....... ........... Besiktas.......... Died at the school
in which he was a
caretaker in the
fire set by the
mob: Cumhuriyet,
8.IX.55. NB:
Uludag was one of
those who had
changed his Greek
name.
Theopoula ........... Uskudar........... Raped, killed:
Papadopoulou. Speech by MP
Alexandros
Hatzopoulos in
Turkish
parliament,
12.IX.55.
Giannis Balkis..... ........... Bakirkoy.......... Found dead in
Street: ibid.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Other than the specific sources cited the following accounts include
information on deaths: Noel Barber's reports in the Daily Mail
(London), the speech of Turkish MP Alexadnros Hatzopoulos in
parliament and the report by US Senator Homer Capehart to Secretary of
State Dulles.
____________________