Turkey’s last Armenian village faces expropriation threat

PanARMENIAN.Net - Vakifli, the last Armenian village in Turkey, is at risk of losing part of its land, homes, and agricultural areas due to a new housing project initiated by Turkey’s Housing Development Administration (TOKİ). The village, located in the Musa Dagh region within Hatay’s Samandag district, is facing potential expropriation as part of a large-scale construction plan.

Residents fear that the project will lead to demographic changes, reports Ermenihaber.

In an interview with Bianet, one resident emphasized that Vakifli has existed for centuries, and they are deeply concerned about the preservation of its cultural and historical heritage. According to villagers, the project could threaten Vakifli’s unique status as the only Armenian village in Turkey, with nearly half of its land currently at risk of expropriation.

According to data published on TOKİ’s official website, the proposed project in the Hidırbey and Vakifkoy neighborhoods includes the construction of 1,353 housing units. The first phase plans for 667 residential units and a commercial center, while the second phase will add 686 more apartments.

Vakifli’s village head, Perç Kartun, stated that discussions with Hatay Governor Mustafa Masatlı are ongoing to clarify the situation.

Musa Dagh, including Vakifli, has long been a testament to the Armenian presence in the region. Most of the local Armenian community was forced to flee during the 1915 genocide and later in 1939, when Turkey annexed Hatay. In recent years, legal efforts to reclaim lost Armenian properties have faced obstacles. The Vakifli Armenian Church Foundation has demanded the return of 36 properties historically owned by the Armenian community but later transferred to the state or private owners. Although Turkey’s Constitutional Court acknowledged property rights violations in 2022, the properties have yet to be restored.

The proposed expropriation plan has raised new concerns about the future of the village.