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On 19 April, 2016, the Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM) held a meeting titled The Relations between Mormon Missionaries and Armenians in the Ottoman Empire with Prof. Dr. Seçil Karal Akgün as the keynote speaker.  

Prof. Dr. Seçil Karal Akgün, the author of the book titled Mormon Missionaries in the Ottoman Empire published by İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları in 2014, discussed the reasons behind why American Mormon missionaries left their homes for the Ottoman Empire and their relations with Armenians during this course of time.

Prof. Dr. Seçil Karal Akgün pointed out that starting from the 16th century, Christian missionaries, taking advantage of the Ottoman Empire’s tolerance towards non-Muslim communities within the Empire, took certain measures to spread Christianity amongst the Ottomans. Prof. Dr. Karal Akgün stated that the number of American Protestants in the Ottoman Empire reached a peak in the 19th century and that there was a similar influx of American Mormon missionaries to Istanbul, in the 1880s, in the hopes of spreading their beliefs. Moreover, Prof. Dr. Akgün mentioned that this group, which was unknown to many until that day, remained in the Ottoman Empire for 40 years by establishing close ties with Armenians in Ottoman territories.

Prof. Dr. Akgün informed the audience about the activities of Mormon missionaries, who have expressed detailed information in the reports to their Church regarding the Ottoman Empire prior to the deportation. At the end of the conference, Prof. Dr. Akgün addressed the questions raised by the audience.