Within a short period, hundreds have signed a petition calling for the revocation of the 99-year lease of nearly 25% of the Armenian quarter in the old city of Jerusalem.

Click here to see the petition initiated by Jerusalem Armenian activists Hagop Djernezian

Below is the text of the petition

Back in July 2021, the historical Armenian Garden known as the Cows’ Garden (Goverou Bardez) was leased for 99 years to an Australian Jewish Businessman. The illegal lease was signed by Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, defrocked Fr. Baret Yeretzian, and Archbishop Sevan Gharibian. The illegal lease was signed without the consent of the Holy Synod and the General Assembly of the St. James Brotherhood.

The scandalous lease therefore violated the constitution of the Patriarchate which prohibits leases for 99 years. The historical Armenian Garden is located in the southwest corner of the Armenian Quarter and on the highest point in the Old City of Jerusalem. The process of buying the land started during the 13th century thanks to the generous donations of the Armenian nation to the Armenian Patriarchate.

More than 11500 square meters were leased illegally, and 25% of the Armenian Quarter is in jeopardy.

Next to the land, you can find the St. James Armenian Convent, the Mardigian Museum, the Armenian Seminary, and houses of Armenian families. A month ago, the Jerusalemite Armenian Community discovered that the areas surrounding the Armenian Garden are included in the deal as well. The houses of Armenian families, the events hall of the Armenian Seminary, and other parts are included in the scandalous deal.

By this petition, we call upon the Patriarchate to revoke immediately the illegal deal in order to protect the 2000-year-old uninterrupted Armenian presence in Jerusalem.

For more information read the following articles:

BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-65876162

AP: https://apnews.com/article/jerusalem-armenian-community-land-lease-controversy-c9126c0a159cd9a285f2bcfd31d67a5b?fbclid=IwAR1uhy8jZQQ4HmxI-FtfAKZ59sj0lbD03JTMQmh08dLGiiqAQ6devJpL9bo

The New Arab: https://www.newarab.com/analysis/how-secret-land-sales-threaten-jerusalems-armenian-quarter?fbclid=IwAR0cmFJI43qr9w-KGKye3CsRzB8brRW-7UUCjjdO9Mp_UTjPRij52WIMGgg

The Media Line: https://themedialine.org/top-stories/exclusive-priest-says-he-became-scapegoat-for-controversial-armenian-land-deal/

Keghart.org: https://keghart.org/scandal-at-the-armenian-patriarchate-of-jerusalem/

CivilNet covering the sale of Armenian lands in the Armenian Quarter: