Harutiun Jangülian

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Harutiun Jangülian (1855 – 15 June 1915) was an Armenian historian, political activist, and member of the Armenian National Assembly. Born in Van, within the Ottoman Empire, which at that time was considered one of the centers of the newly emerging Armenian freedom movement, Jangülian spent his early years amidst this tumultuous period.

In 1884, he joined the Hunchak Social Democratic Party while living in Van and later moved to Constantinople. It was there that he met Hampartsum Boyadjian, a prominent political activist who would become an influential figure in Jangülian's life. The two became key organizers of the Kum Kapu demonstration, a pivotal event in Armenian history.

The Kum Kapu demonstration took place on 27 July 1890 in Kukapi district, Constantinople, where the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople was located. During this mass, Jangülian interrupted the proceedings and read out a statement condemning the church's indifference to the abuse of the Armenian people. The protesters then forced the patriarch to join a procession heading towards the Yıldız Palace to demand reforms for the Armenian provinces.

However, the event turned violent when police surrounded the crowd, resulting in several deaths, including that of one police officer and up to seven others, with some sources indicating four police officers were among those killed. Although Jangülian was initially hailed as a hero by many, he later faced severe repercussions for his actions.

In 1890, following the Kum Kapu demonstration, Jangülian was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment due to his involvement in the event. However, Ottoman Padişahi II. Abdulhamid intervened on his behalf and changed the sentence to one of exile instead. Despite this reprieve, Jangülian continued to face persecution.

In 1915, during the Armenian Genocide, Jangülian was arrested once more. He spent six years in prison before being released. However, upon his return to Constantinople, he resumed his political activity and became a vocal advocate for Armenian rights. Tragically, on 15 June 1915, Jangülian was arrested again at the beginning of the genocide, deported, and ultimately executed by the Ottoman army.

Throughout his life, Jangülian demonstrated unwavering dedication to the Armenian National Assembly and the pursuit of justice for the Armenian people. His