Kemal Arıkan
Kemal Arıkan (1927–1982) was a Turkish diplomat killed by two US citizens of Armenian origin in Los Angeles, United States.
Early life
He as born on 1927 in İskilip , Çorum Province. After finishing the Ankara University, Law School and Harvard University, he began serving in governmental offices. In 1955 he transferred to Ministry of Foreign Affairs He was married and the father of two.[1]
Professional life
In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in addition to various offices at home, he served in the embassies in Prague, Chicago, Canberra and Sydney. In 1978 he was appointed as the chief concul in Los Angeles. Los Angeles was a critical point for Turkish representatives, for another chief concul Mehmet Baydar and vice consul Bahadır Demir were assassniated in 1973. Thus Arıkan left his two children in Canberra, Australia which was one of his former places of duty. In an interview to Los Angeles Times “You take precaution” was his answer to a question about risks in Los Angeles .[1]
Assassination
On 28 January 1982, at about 9.30, Arıkan drove from home to office. When he stopped at red stoplight two terrorists began shooting at him. He was hit 14 times. Two terrorists were Hampig Sassounian and Krikor Saliba. Although Saliba disappeared without a trace, Hampig was arrested and in 1984 he was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Legacy
Two streets one in Pozantı, Adana Province [2] and one in Kuşadası, Aydın Province [3] were named after Kemal Arıkan.
References
- 1 2 Bilal Şimşir:Şehit Diplomatlarımız, Bilgi yayınevi, İstanbul, Vol 1, ISBN 975-494-925-5 .82
- ↑ Adana address page
- ↑ Aydın map