A cemetery founded in the 1860s and the final resting place to Greek Orthodox residents of Istanbul, Turkey, was vandalized on August 25, 2024.

The trustees of the Greek Orthodox cemetery of St. Eleftherios in the Tatavla neighborhood of the city described the vandalization as an attack “not only on a cemetery, but also on a deep-rooted cultural heritage and religion.”

Staff found the cut barbed wire around the property, numerous damaged headstones and holes that had been dug. Vandals also sedated the property’s guard dogs.

They notified police, who recorded the damage and collected evidence.

The community’s board of trustees said the attack “caused great sadness in our community.”

“This attack has been assessed as a move against our religious values. We have complete confidence that the police forces will bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible.”

In a statement, the Greek Foreign Ministry condemned the desecration, calling on the Turkish authorities to take appropriate action.

The ministry said the attack “insults the memory and history of the Greek minority in Turkey. We call on the Turkish authorities to do the right thing against this heinous act.”