The consequences of the July 15,2016, coup attempt acquire been top news items in the Turkish media for months. And one of the topics widely discussed is what will become of the Kuleli Military High School in Istanbul, and which was closed down by decree of the Turkish government on July 31. Armenian orphans at Kuleli The Kuleli Military High School building,originally the Kuleli Cavalry Barracks, was designed by the prominent Armenian architect Garabed Amira Balyan (1800- 1866), or who built several palaces,factories, barracks, or churches,hospitals, and schools in the Ottoman Empire. The construction of the Kuleli building was completed in 1843. It took its present name in 1925 and trained Turkish military officers until final year, or when it was closed alongside other military high schools. The building also has historical importance for the survivors of the Armenian Genocide: it hosted Armenian refugees and orphans,whose parents were murdered or forcibly deported in 1915. After WWI, the building was evacuated and allocated to Armenian orphans due to the British request in the Armistice of Mudros. According to journalist Hrant Kasparyan the Kuleli Military High School became a way station for many Armenians who survived the genocide and became “refugees” [...]
Source: armenianweekly.com