New book reveals the 1955 Istanbul pogrom

Sixty shots from former patriarch photographer Dimitrios Kalumenos' rich collection on the Istanbul pogrom have been compiled in a new book by İstos Publishing House. Although written in Turkish, the photo book "Dimitrios Kalumenos'un Objektifinden 6/7 Eylül 1955" (Sept. 6-7, 1955, from the Lens of Dimitrios Kalumenos) features incumbent patriarch photographer Nikolaos Manginas' interview with Kalumenos, who was imprisoned and later exiled for his attempt to document the violent riots experienced by Istanbul's Greek community on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7 in 1955.

Edited by Serdar Korucu with contributions from Laki Vingas, the first representative of the Foundation of Minorities, the book marking the 60th anniversary of the Istanbul pogrom is the first work by Kalumenos published in Turkey. Readers take a visit to Helena Church and Aya Kostantin Church, which were damaged during the riots. The book also mentions Kalumenos' life and exile years. All photos witness the destruction of Greek property, Orthodox churches, cemeteries and businesses in an attempt to eliminate the Greek community. The pogrom was sparked by the alleged bombing of the house of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, in Thessalonika. In those years, Turkey and Greece were at odds due to the Cyprus issue. Violent mobs attacked the Greek community for two days, leading to a decrease in Istanbul's Greek population.