23.08.2025 15:27
A cemetery in Arnavutköy, Istanbul, was dug up multiple times by treasure hunters. During the excavations carried out by the treasure seekers, who claimed it was an "Armenian cemetery," bones were seen scattered outside. The local muhtar and residents reacted to the situation.
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A cemetery located in the Yassıören neighborhood of Arnavutköy district in Istanbul was excavated for the third time by treasure hunters.
The incident occurred in the cemetery located in the Yassıören neighborhood of Arnavutköy. Allegedly, treasure hunters excavated a citizen's grave, claiming it was an "Armenian cemetery." Those who came to pray at the cemetery were shocked to see the opened grave. It was learned that individuals previously caught by gendarmerie teams confessed in their statements that they had dug the grave to search for treasure, and they were later released.
"THEY HAVE DUG UP THE GRAVE OF A CITIZEN BURIED 51 YEARS AGO"
It was reported that bones were scattered around the cemetery, and some graves had been repeatedly closed and excavated again, causing outrage among the locals and the muhtar. Yassıören Neighborhood Muhtar Abdülkadir Atay stated, "They have dug up the graves again in the evening. This is the third excavation. We caught them during the second one, took their statements, they were referred to court, and they were released. Our laws seem very lenient to me. They have dug up the grave of a citizen buried 51 years ago, and the bones are outside. This kind of disrespect is unacceptable. I am very disturbed as both a muhtar and a citizen. I want a solution now; our elders should take precautions. The grave being dug up now is that of my grandfather's uncle, Yaşar Yücel. The bones are outside. When we caught the man, I asked him, 'Isn't it shameful? Why are you digging a Muslim grave?' He replied, 'We didn't steal the bones; they are still there.' As if mocking. Our gendarmerie and we are also fed up with this issue," he said.
Moreover, the cemetery and its surroundings, which were plundered by treasure hunters, were also captured by drone cameras from the air. The footage showed that the cemetery had been excavated several meters deep, with bones exposed and scattered around. Gloves and tools used for treasure digging left behind by the treasure hunters were also captured in the footage.
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