Artin Penik
Artin Penik | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1921 |
| Died | 15 August 1982 Istanbul, Turkey |
| Occupation | Tailor |
Artin Penik (1921 – August 15 1982) was a Turkish-Armenian who set himself on fire in protest of the terrorist attacks in Esenboğa International Airport by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA, also known as Third October) on August 10 1982.[1][2][3]
Penik, a 61-year-old, self-employed tailor, set himself on fire in Taksim plaza, the main square of Istanbul, Turkey, after leaving a suicide note in which he wrote "I can no longer bear the grief over slayings of innocent people."[4]
In the attack which led to Penik's suicide protest, ASALA directly targeted civilians for the first time, opening fire in a crowded passenger waiting room at the Ankara airport.[2] While in hospital, he was visited by the Armenian Patriarch Shnork Kaloustian who described him "a symbol of Armenian discontent with these brutal murders."[3][4]
Penik was interviewed for television in the hospital two days before his death, during which he called for all world governments to unite against terrorism, declaring that those countries which tolerated terror would one day find themselves facing it directed towards them and wished that God give patience to the Turkish people.[5] He further stated that his original plan had been to commit suicide in front of the French general consulate, but he changed his mind at the last moment, and decided to die in the "presence of Atatürk" in Taksim.[5]
Penik died in the emergency ward of the Istanbul Cerrahpaşa Hospital five days after his attempted suicide.[4] His funeral, held at the Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church was attended by Armenians and Turks as well as by government officials and the funeral procession filled the streets of the Kumkapı district.[6]
References
- ^ Oran, Baskın (2006-12-17). "The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)". Nouvelles d'Armenie. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|1=and|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b "Armenian Issue, Allegations-Facts, Chronology". Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Turkey. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
- ^ a b "He was an Armenian: Artin Penik". Turkish Journal. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
- ^ a b c "Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns". Associated Press. 1982-08-15.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ a b Artin Penik (1982-08-13). (Graphic) TV interview with Artin Penik in hospital (Turkish with English subtitles) (TV interview). Istanbul, Turkey.
{{cite AV media}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); External link in|title= - ^ Özuzun, Yervant (2001-10-11). "Ulusal Ötekilerden Küresel Ötekilere". Hye-Tert. Retrieved 2007-02-21.Template:Tr icon