Integration Of Islamized Armenians In Armenian Society Threatens Cou

INTEGRATION OF ISLAMIZED ARMENIANS IN ARMENIAN SOCIETY THREATENS COUNTRY’S SECURITY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
20.06.2009 15:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian identity has already been shaped, and
it is not acceptable to call the generation of Islamized Armenians
"Muslim Armenians", since there is no such notion, said a historian
Tamara Vardanyan to news conference in Yerevan today.

"Today we face a challenge of obliteration of our national
identity. Integration of generations of Islamized Armenians not
recognizing themselves as Armenians and Christians into Armenian
society threatens Armenia’s security," the historian said. However,
according to Tamara Vardanyan, small number of Islamized Armenians
return to Armenia, visit Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and again
adopt Christian denomination.

"Islam is a world-view, style of life and an Armenian adopted Islam is
alienated from national values and roots. In some cases they are much
more faithful Muslims. The key question is whether these Armenians
admit Armenia to be their motherland or not," she stressed. According
to her, today there is no precise data about the quantity of Armenians,
whose ancestors adopted Islam. Meanwhile, Armenians wishing to come
back to Christianity are very few.