Kurdified - Turkified Armenians

Yervant1 · August 29, 2014

What's Next for the 'Hidden Armenians' of Diyarbakir/Dikranagerd?

By Raffi Bedrosyan on August 28, 2014

http://asbarez.com/126447/what%E2%80%99s-next-for-the-%E2%80%98hidden-armenians%E2%80%99-of-dikranagerd/

The historic first trip to Armenia of Diyarbakir's "hidden Armenians"
is coming to an end and it is time for us to assess its impact,
consequences, and next steps.

At the end of the first week, we organized a "Dikranagerd Night" at a
beautiful location called the HyeLandz Eco Village in the village of
Keghatir. We invited government officials, academicians, and
researchers following our group, as well as some of the new-found
relatives of the hidden Armenians, whose ancestors had managed to
escape to Armenia after 1915. This reunion between the Islamicized
Armenians of Diyarbakir and their Christian-Armenian relatives was a
special one. Needless to say, the dancing and singing kept the whole
village awake until the early hours of the morning. During the last
few days, the group visited Lake Sevan and there--whether Muslim or
Christian--they all reinforced their "Armenianness" by dipping into the
holy waters, some just their toes, some their entire bodies... Then they
were off to a government camping facility in Dzaghgatsor for a few
days, where they had a chance to rest after a whirlwind tour of
Armenia, and learn more of the Armenian language, songs, and dances.
They all enjoyed the camp, except for the morning gym classes and the
"beds from the Stalin era."

Scenes from the trip

On this drive back home to Diyarbakir to resume their lives, perhaps a
bit apprehensive about their emerging new identities, I would like to
share some of the life stories of these no-more-hidden Armenians.
There is enough material for a book or movie for each of the 50
members of the group. Through interviews by the media or Ministry of
Diaspora officials, the Armenians of Armenia have started to find out
about them. The most interesting responses have been to the question,
"When did you realize you had Armenian roots?" Some of them found out
they were Armenian when they were already adults, at the deathbed of
their parents or grandparents. Some discovered when they were in
compulsory military service in the Turkish Army, when their commanders
told them they couldn't be trusted because of their "background." Some
found out when they were little, when other kids shouted "Armenian" to
them in the street or at school; they knew it was a swear word,
without knowing its meaning. As they rushed home crying, their parents
had to explain that Armenian is not a swear word, but their identity.
Some hidden Armenians tried hard to appear as devout Muslims; one even
became an imam, a Muslim religious leader, while keeping his identity
hidden. However, most hidden Armenians tried to ensure that their
children married into other hidden Armenian families. Even the imam
gave his daughter to another Islamicized Armenian boy, raising
questions among his Muslim followers. No matter how much these people
tried to hide their Armenian roots, however, it seems that their
neighbors or government officials knew about their origins. During
disagreements with shopkeepers, businesses, neighboring women or kids
at school, the insult of "gavur" (infidel) or "devil-rooted Armenian"
easily came out, no matter how devout they appeared to be.

"...we will keep on expanding our efforts in Diyarbakir and in other
regions of Turkey, pushing the envelope on rules and regulations in
order to facilitate the 'coming out' of our hidden Armenian brothers
and sisters--the grandchildren of the 'living' victims of the
genocide."

One tragicomic story involves three Muslim-Kurdish boys about 8-9
years old; one of them was from a hidden Armenian family, but unaware
of his roots at the time. They stole some of those famous Diyarbakir
watermelons from the orchard of a hidden Armenian Islamicized man. The
man caught the three little thieves, but let the two real
Muslim-Kurdish boys go and gave a good beating to the hidden Armenian
boy. I leave it to the psychologists to ponder the reasons for this
man's actions. Years later, this hidden Armenian boy found out about
his real identity, and still thinks about this incident.

The participants in the trip visit Garni.

Another interesting fact that emerged from the interviews is the
special place Yerevan Radio has in all Kurdish families' lives,
including our hidden Armenians group. As the Kurdish language was
banned--and even possessing a Kurdish music tape was a punishable crime
in Turkey for several decades--all Kurds tuned in to Yerevan Radio,
which broadcast Kurdish news and music for a couple of hours each day.
The members of our group all remembered how, when they were growing
up, everyone would stop work at their homes or at shops to gather
around the radio and hear Yerevan Radio's Kurdish news.

I am confident that the groundbreaking nature of this historic first
trip will open the road for other hidden Armenians to follow, but I
would like to report on three additional successful outcomes resulting
from this trip.

Firstly, two university graduates in our group who wanted to further
their graduate studies in Armenia will be able to fulfill their
dreams. Through an agreement with Armenian government officials, they
will attend Armenian universities with free tuition, mastering the
Armenian language during the first year and continuing on in their
desired field of study.

Secondly, some members of the group inquired about obtaining Armenian
citizenship, perhaps with future plans of retiring in Armenia. As per
the existing citizenship requirements, the Armenian government demands
documents and proof of Armenian ethnic origin; of course, no such
documents exist among our hidden Armenians, except the memories passed
on from their parents and grandparents. In discussions with government
officials, I proposed the possibility of a baptism document as proof
of Armenian origin. I suggested that if a hidden Armenian "comes out"
and gets baptized in Armenia--similar to our two members who got
baptized in Etchmiadzin (see previous article)--then this should be
sufficient proof to apply for Armenian citizenship. The proposal was
received favorably and will now be discussed in Cabinet, hopefully
leading to approval by the government.

Thirdly, learning the Armenian language, history, and culture is
essential to re-discovering Armenian roots. The Virtual University run
by the AGBU in Yerevan is offering online courses in these subjects.
The administrators have agreed to offer these courses for free to all
applicants from Turkey. This will have a huge impact on the hidden
Armenians of Turkey, wherever they are--in Dersim, Van, Mush, or
Diyarbakir--as they can start learning on their own, and in their own
homes, even in the absence of organized language courses.

The participants in the trip attend Armenian language and history classes.

Although this trip was the start of a new reality within the Armenian
world, and was received with great enthusiasm by both government
officials and the public in Armenia, I must admit that not everyone is
on board. There are still quite a few Armenians who disapprove of the
time and effort in bringing out the hidden Armenians. Perhaps it is
untimely to air our dirty laundry, but I believe the arguments put
forth by these disapproving Armenians must be discussed, as some of
these people hold important posts within the Armenian Church and in
political organizations in the diaspora and in Istanbul. These
disapprovers argue that Muslim Armenians are not really Armenian until
they convert to Christianity by getting baptized. But then, they argue
that they cannot get baptized unless they show proof or documentation
of their Armenian origins, until they speak fluent Armenian and "pass
tests of being a good Armenian." I believe it is shortsighted and
unrealistic to have such requirements for hidden Armenians living in
Van or Dersim, who are surrounded by Muslim Turks and Kurds, working
in government jobs. The other argument I find incomprehensible is that
the emergence of hidden Armenians in large numbers undermine the
veracity of the 1915 genocide, and that it is tantamount to
strengthening the Turkish case for denial. I have even received
comments that Turks will now use the hidden Armenians as proof that
the genocide never happened. I should stick to engineering or music,
they say, instead of getting involved in these issues. These comments
can be dismissed, were it not for the fact that they come from
individuals in undeservedly responsible positions in the diaspora and
in Istanbul.

Regardless, we will keep on expanding our efforts in Diyarbakir and in
other regions of Turkey, pushing the envelope on rules and regulations
in order to facilitate the "coming out" of our hidden Armenian
brothers and sisters--the grandchildren of the "living" victims of the
genocide. There is a Turkish term for these hapless survivors: kilic
artigi, meaning "remnants of the sword." The attempted murder of a
nation and the total confiscation of its wealth took place within
Turkey, and as we approach the Centennial, we must realize that its
resolution will also take place within Turkey. No matter how many
events we organize in the Armenian Diaspora or in Armenia, no matter
how many third-country parliaments and politicians appear to
sympathize with our cause, at the end of the day, the only change will
come from within Turkey when the peoples of Turkey realize the truth
about 1915 and force their government to stop the denial and deal with
the consequences. One of the key components toward this goal will be
to re-create an Armenian presence within Turkey. The continuing
dialogue between Armenian and Turkish civil societies and opinion
makers, combined with the emergence of hidden Armenians within Turkey,
are essential toward eliminating both past and present barriers.

I will conclude this series of articles with a tribute to the courage
and determination of our hidden Armenians, and a few questions for
readers to ponder: How will they be received back in Turkey? How will
their families, neighbors, employers, and employees react to their new
identity? Just consider Stepan's case, the newly baptized man who
works as a teacher at a government school. All of his students are
Muslim. He told me he knows there are several kids in his class who
come from hidden Armenian Islamicized families, but he doesn't know if
the kids know about their roots. How will the Muslim kids (or their
parents) react to him coming out? How will the hidden Armenian kids
(or their parents) react? How will his own kids react?

We are in uncharted waters, but sooner or later, truth and justice will prevail.

Yervant1 · September 1, 2014

ragmamoul

Տերսիմի Շորտա Գիւղի Բոլոր Բնակիչները Հայ Են

http://www.ragmamoul.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/dercim.jpg

Տերսիմի Շորտա Գիւղի Բոլոր Բնակիչները Հայ Են

«Ակօս» թերթի հայերէն յաւելուածի խմբագիրներէն Բագրատ Էսդուգեան Օգոստոսի սկիզբը Տերսիմի Մնձուրի փառատօնի օրերուն այցելած է նաեւ Տերսիմի Շորտա գիւղը, ուր ան յայտնաբերած է, թէ գիւղի բնակչութիւնը ամբողջութեամբ հայերէ կը բաղկանայ:
Էսդուքեան կը գրէ.

«Սակայն այդ բոլորին մէջ արտակարգօրէն ցայտուն եւ եզակի դարձաւ Մազկերտի հայկական Շորտա գիւղի խրախճանքը, ուր ծանօթացանք գիւղի բնակիչներուն հետ եւ պարզուեցաւ, թէ ամբողջ գիւղը հայերէ կը բաղկանայ. մէկ մասը հպարտութեամբ կը յայտնէ այդ պատկանելիութիւնը, իսկ մէկ մասն ալ կը գոհանայ «հայրս հայ է» կամ «պապս հայ է» ըսելով:

Գիւղի հրապարակին վրայ ամբողջ ժողովուրդը շուրջպար էր բռնած, իսկ գիւղի կանայք խորոված միսով ու սիսեռով պատրաստուած Տերսիմի խոհանոցին յատուկ ճաշեր կը սպասարկէին ներկաներուն: Ահա այդ թոհուբոհին մէջ յանկարծ պարզուեցաւ հսկայ «աֆիշ» մը, որուն վրայ պատկերուած էին նախորդ տարուան Մայիսին «Կեզի» զբօսայգիի ցոյցերուն ժամանակ երկրի տարբեր քաղաքներուն մէջ զոհուած երիտասարդներու դիմանկարները, որոնք եւս ծափողջոյններով դիմաւորուեցան բոլորին կողմէ:

Ինչպէս ամէն ուրախութիւն, ժամերը յառաջացան ու Շորտա գիւղի խրախճանքն ալ հասաւ իր աւարտին: Ետ դարձի պահը հասած էր, երբ նկատեցի մեր բարեկամուհիներէն մին, որ նստած կը շաղակրատէր գիւղի կանանց հետ: Զգուշացուցի, թէ՝ կ՛երթանք: «Դուք գացէք, ես հոս եմ, հարսիս մօտ կը մնամ», պատասխանեց, բայց զարմանքս նկատելով՝ կողքիս երիտասարդ կինը ցոյց տալով բացատրեց, թէ ան կողակիցն է իր սիրելի մէկ բարեկամին, որ Պելճիքա կը բնակի ու քաղաքական մտավախութիւններով կը խուսափի Թուրքիա գալէ:

Քանի որ հարսեր ալ ունինք այս գիւղէն, ուրեմն կասկած չունիմ, որ Շորտա կը շարունակէ պահել իր հայկական դիմագիծը»:

Arpa · September 25, 2014

ՎԱՐԴՕ ՎԱՐԹՕ ՎԱՐԴԱՎԱՌ

VARDO VARTO VARDAVAR***

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Курд_Армянин.jpg

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http://asbarez.com/arm/198667/

Վարդօ Թաքուն Հայերու Պատմութիւն(History of the Hidden Armenians)

*** I have known several Vardavars /Vartivars that we endearingly called them VARDO/VARTO.

The O ending seems to be from Kurdish. We also know many names that endearingly end in O, like Garo, Sako, Maro, Arsho,.Arshaluys, Arshak, Arshavir etc. (I was surprised to know that Arshaluys is also a male name).

Kirmanja zane*** lo?- Do you know Kurdish?

***Ծանօթ ես/Ծանես/Ծանիր զքեզ/Know thyself?****

====

The Armenian village Varto/Vardo was named as a Diminution of Vardavar, (or was it Vardan?) A Suburb of Mardin. Both Hrant and Rakel Dinks were born there.

====

Խումբ մը հալէպահայ «խենթ»եր՝ Մայիս 28ի տօնակատարութեանց ներկայ գտնուելու ձգտումով, Արեւմտահայաստանի ընդմէջէն կ՛ուղղուէին դէպի Արեւելահայաստան: Անոնց ինքնաշարժը ցուցարարներու կողմէ կը կասեցուէր: Ովքե՞ր էին այդ տարօրինակ բնաւորութեամբ մարդիկը
A group of crazy Armenians from Aleppo were traveling through Western Armenia to get to Hayastan for the May 28 celebrations. When suddenly their convoy was stopped by strange looking people .Who were those strange looking people?

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http://www.bianet.org/english/politics/98693-rakel-dink-adresses-the-court

Your Honour the President of the Court and the Honorable Judges,
My story begins with the Armenian Varto/Vardo tribe which is one of the 1915 leftovers. I was born in 1959 into the Armenian Varto tribe which was in Mardin borders; in Sirnak district now. Today the town is called Yolagzi. (I cannot find it on the map) The name Varto comes from my grand grandfather's name, Vartan (?). The remaining of the tribe migrated to İstanbul in 1978. Until migration, their life in the village, and then in the city was spent by struggling at the courts against the fraud deeds that the landlords of the neighboring villages manufactured. These neighbor villages were built on our lands.

http://www.mesop.de/2012/01/24/rakel-sings-kurdish-armenian-land-overtaken-by-kurds/

Many people couldnt hold back their tears. The life story of Rakel Dink, (maiden name Yaghbasan), is a remarkable one. She was born in a village in the southeast of Turkey, the daughter of a leader of an Armenian clan, known as the Ermeni Varto clan. Several families of the clan escaped from the genocide in 1915 and settled in the Cudi mountains, in the present-day province of Sirnak. They lived there for twenty five years, isolated from the outside world.

Here we see how one day the teacher suggested that Vardavar be renamed Vardo.

Եղբայրս՝ Վարդավառը, օր մը դպրոցէն տուն եկաւ՝ ըսելով. «Հայերէնի ուսուցչուհին զիս Վարդօ վերանուանեց»: Այդ օր բոլորիս համար ալ զարմանալի թուեցաւ եղբօրս ստացած վերամկրտումը, քանի որ այդ՝ բացի մեծ հօրս քրիստոնէական կարեւորագոյն աւանդութիւններէն եւ
անունը ըլլալէ, նաեւ կը յիշեցնէր մեր հայկական եւ քրիստոնէական կարեւորագոյն աւանդութիւններէն եւ տաղաւարներէն տօներէն մին.

Խումբ մը հալէպահայ «խենթ»եր՝ Մայիս 28ի տօնակատարութեանց ներկայ գտնուելու ձգտումով, Արեւմտահայաստանի ընդմէջէն կ՛ուղղուէին դէպի Արեւելահայաստան: Անոնց ինքնաշարժը ցուցարարներու կողմէ կը կասեցուէր: Ովքե՞ր էին այդ տարօրինակ բնաւորութեամբ մարդիկը

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A group of crazies fromAleppo Armenians were traveling towards Western Armenia and on, when suddenly a mob stopped them. They were kurdified hidden Armenians.

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ՄԱՐԻԱՆԱ ՊԷՐԹԻԶԼԵԱՆ-ՂԱԶԱՐԵԱՆ
Եղբայրս՝ Վարդավառը, օր մը դպրոցէն տուն եկաւ՝ ըսելով. «Հայերէնի ուսուցչուհին զիս Վարդօ վերանուանեց»: Այդ օր բոլորիս համար ալ զարմանալի թուեցաւ եղբօրս ստացած վերամկրտումը, քանի որ այդ՝ բացի մեծ հօրս անունը ըլլալէ, նաեւ կը յիշեցնէր մեր հայկական եւ քրիստոնէական կարեւորագոյն աւանդութիւններէն եւ տաղաւարներէն տօներէն մին: Ու պահ մը յիշեցի, թէ ինչպէս նոյն ուսուցչուհին, բարի կամեցողութեամբ, փորձած էր անունս հայացնելով վերածել՝ Մարիանայէն Մարինէի:
«Մարինէ» հայկական անունս, ինքզինք պարտադրեց ուսանողութեանս երկրորդականի շրջանին, սակայն «Վարդօ»ն՝ դժգոհանքիս առընթեր, շարունակեց իր իշխանութիւնը մինչեւ անցեալ Մայիս, երբ դարձաւ իմ հպարտանքիս շարժառիթներէն մին:
Խումբ մը հալէպահայ «խենթ»եր՝ Մայիս 28ի տօնակատարութեանց ներկայ գտնուելու ձգտումով, Արեւմտահայաստանի ընդմէջէն կ՛ուղղուէին դէպի Արեւելահայաստան: Անոնց ինքնաշարժը ցուցարարներու կողմէ կը կասեցուէր: Ովքե՞ր էին այդ տարօրինակ բնաւորութեամբ մարդիկը
Մշոյ դաշտի Վարդօ գիւղի պահանջատէր հայերն էին: Այն գիւղը, որուն մէջ հազարամեակներ առաջ սկիզբ առած էր վարդավառեան տօնակատարութիւնները Աստղիկ դիցուհիի հովանաւորութեամբ, վարդերու տարափով, ուրկէ ստացած էր իր անուանումը ու մինչեւ մեր օրերը պահպանած զայն: Մշոյ դաշտի հիւսիս արեւմտեան շրջանը, Մուշ քաղաքէն 60 քլմ. դէպի հիւսիս, շրջապատուած Պինկէօլեան լեռներով, ջրառատ գիւղ մըն է Վարդօն, տասնմէկ հազար բնակչութեամբ: Երկու մեծ երկրաշարժներու (1946 եւ1966 թուականներուն) թիրախ դարձած, որոնցմէ վերջինին վէրքերը չեն սպիացած տակաւին: 1071 թուականին սելճուքներու արշաւանքով եւ Մանազկերտի ճակատամարտով Վարդօն կ՛անցնի սելճուքներու տիրապետութեան տակ, իսկ 1514ին՝ օսմանեան: Ու բարեկամս շարունակեց պատմել. «Անոնք իրենց հուժկու մարմիններով մեր ինքնաշարժին ընթացքը կասեցնելով՝ կը ջանային բան մը ըսել գանգատ էր, թէ աղերս, չէր հասկցուեր, աւելի ճիշդը այս երկուքին հանրագումարը, որ ահազանգի մը պէս կը հնչէր անոնց ցասկոտ եւ պահանջատէր շրթներէն. «Ժամանակին այստեղ հայեր կ՛ապրէին, այժմ եւս կ՛ապրին»: Տարօրինակ էր անոնց արտաքինն ու խօսակցութիւնը: Գիւղի բնակիչները ամբողջութեամբ հայեր էին: Բազմաթիւ փոքրիկ շրջակայ գաւառներով այս աւանը իր բնակչութեամբ՝ Ցեղասպանութեան ժամանակ առերես իսլամութիւն ընդունած, արտաքուստ թուրք, քիւրտ մուսլուման ներկայացող, բայց իր ազգային կրօնական նկարագիրը գաղտնի շարունակող, ներամփոփ, խառն ամուսնութիւններէ հեռու մնացած մեր արիւնակիցները կը ներկայացնէր: Խուսափելով ձուլումէն, կրցած էին իրենց հայկականութիւնը պահպանել մինչեւ մեր օրերը: Անոնք կը փնտռէին իրենց «եղբայրներ»ը: Տարիներ շարունակ զրկուած իրենց մայրենի լեզուով արտայայտուելու իրաւունքէն՝ պարտադրաբար թուրք կոչուած էին, քանի որ սահմանադրական օրէնքը կ՛ըսէ, թէ Թուրքիոյ տարածքին ապրող քաղաքացիները բոլորն ալ թուրքեր են: Իսկ Արեւմտահայաստանի եւ արեւմտահայութեան հարցերու ուսումնասիրութեան կեդրոն «Ակունք»ը Երեւանէն կը գրէ. «Այսօր Թուրքիոյ մէջ հայը ազգութիւն չէ, այլ խորհրդաւոր թշնամի»:
Ու Նեմրութ լերան շրջակայքը՝ հազարաւոր տարիներէ ի վեր ապրած բնիկ հայեր, իրենց թմբիրէն ելած կը պարզէին իրենց ինքնութիւնը: Զարթօնքի մէջ էին, կը շփէին իրենց քունէն բացուող արտեւանունքները:
Բարեկամիս Հալէպ վերադարձի նոյն օրն իսկ պրպտեցի «Ֆէյսպուք»ը՝ արձակագիր Պետրոս Հաճեանի բառերով՝ «Դիմատետր»ը: Մինչ այդ կ՛այպանէի բոլոր «Ֆէյսպուք» օգտագործողները, այդ օր այդ «բարիք»ին շնորհիւ կրցայ կապի մէջ մտնել խեղճ ու անտէր հայերու հետ, որոնք ոչ միայն Վարդօ գիւղի, այլ Արեւմտահայաստանի տարածքին մեծ մասին ծագումով հայ բնակիչներն էին: Խեղաթիւրուած անուններով, խոր սրտի վիշտով ու կսկիծով մարդիկ, որոնք ծածուկ կը մնան աշխարհի, նոյնիսկ իրենց Սփիւռքի արիւնակիցներու ոչ միայն աչքերէն, այլ նաեւ՝ սիրտերէն: Ո՞վ կրնար գուշակել, թէ Tulin Eroglu-ն կրնար Թալին Էրմէնիօղլու ըլլալ, որ Facebook-ի վրայ թրքերէն լեզուով կը խոստովանի ըսելով. «Լաւ որ երաժշտութիւնը լեզու չունի, թէ ոչ՝ այս հայկական գեղեցկութենէն զրկուած պիտի մնայինք»: Խօսքը Facebook-ի իրենց համար վերապահուած էջի մասին է, որուն անունն է «Վարդօ Էրմէնիլերը»: Կը պարզուի, թէ էջի հեղինակը ծնած է Վարդօ, աւարտած՝ Վարդոյի լիսէն, աշխատած՝ Նիկոլ Գալանտէրեանի անուան բեմարուեստի մանկավարժական համալսարանը, սակայն ներկայիս կ՛ապրի Գերմանիոյ մէջ, իսկ անձնանունը անյայտ կը մնայ մեզի
Ու ասոր նման իրար ետեւէ կը յայտնագործեմ նաեւ՝ Սասուն, Մուշ, Պիթլիս, Արաբկիր, Սեբաստիա, Պինկէօլ, Վան, Աղրըտաղ, Տարօն էրմէնիլերը էջերը: Իւրաքանչիւր «էջ» անուններու եւ պատմութիւններու աշխարհ մըն է, հայու աշխարհ Բոլոր Էրօղլու ազգանուն կրողները ունին հայկական ծագում, որ կը նշանակէ՝ հայորդի: Վարդոյի հայերը իրենց էջին իբրեւ դիմանկար զետեղած են ծեր մամիկ մը՝ ձեռքին զէնք Անոնց ցաւերուն ու հայ ըլլալու տառապանքին, ինչու չէ, յետամնաց գիւղաքաղաքի մը մարդիկը ըլլալուն՝ կարելի է հաղորդակից դառնալ այս միջոցով եւ թերեւս մտածել լուծումներու մասին, անշուշտ հայրենի պետական աջակցութեամբ եւ մակարդակով, ծածուկ կամ բացայայտ: «Անատոլուի Հայեր» էջը կը գրէ թրքերէնով. «Մեր նպատակն է Արեւմտահայաստանի եւ աշխարհի տարբեր մասերը սփռուած հայեր իրարու կապել եւ իրենց անցեալին հասու դարձնել»: Կը մտածեմ, թէ ինչպէս լուցկիի ցպիկը ե՛ւ աւերող, ե՛ւ պիտանի յատկանիշներ ունի, նոյնը կարելի է ըսել նաեւ համացանցին եւ այս հրաշք պատեհութեան՝ «Ֆէյսպուք»ին համար, ուր փոքրիկ սեղմումով մը «like» ընելով կամ «հաւանել»ով, որ իմ հայերէն թարգմանած տարբերակս է, կրնամ ցաւած հայու մը աչքերուն ժպիտ պարգեւել: Իմ երկու բառովս, մխիթարական խօսքովս զգացնել, որ իրենք առանձին չեն: Նախ պէտք է ընդունիլ ու կազդուրել զանոնք խօսքով: Ու հոն՝ այդ «էջ» ըսուածին վրայ ամէն յանցանք եւ թերութիւն բացայայտ է: Իսկ ինչ որ կը հրատարակես՝ բոլորին սեփականութիւնը կը դառնայ, ու իրենց վիշտը կը համակէ քեզ: Այս միջոցով կարելի է ծանօթանալ իրենց ներքին կեանքին: Մշոյ բարբառին՝ աղաւաղուած թրքերէնով կամ ալ քրտերէնով՝ Վարդոյի հայերէնին: Անոնցմէ մաս մը նաեւ կը ճանչցուին իբր «զազա», եւ իրենց լեզուն զազերէնն է: Վերջերս Հայաստանի մէջ տեղի ունեցաւ իրենց նուիրուած գիտաժողով մը, որուն հրաւիրուած էին նաեւ իրենք: Այս համագումարին իրենց մասնակցութիւնը բերած էին մեծ թիւով եւ այնքան շոյուած ու «հայ» զգացած էին:
Մեկնաբանող «commenter» մը Հայաստանէն Facebook-ի վրայ կը հարցնէ. «Ի՞նչ լեզու է»: Տեսանիւթերու ընդմէջէն կը ծանօթանամ անոնց երգ ու բառին, խանձուած դիմագիծերուն, հայկական աչքերուն, ամենակարեւորը՝ հայու տանջուած, բաբախող սիրտին: Անոնք շատ անգամ թուրքերու կողմէ կը շփոթուին քիւրտերու հետ եւ իրենց ճակատումներուն ընթացքին կամ իրենց իրաւունքներու հետապնդման ճամբուն վրայ կը նահատակուին իբր քիւրտ խռովարարներ: Կը պատահի նաեւ հակառակը, երբ թուրքերը կ՛եզրակացնեն, թէ այն ինչ որ խորհրդաւոր է կամ ահաբեկչութեան հետ կապուած՝ ուրեմն հայեր կան անոր ետին կամ ալ ծագումով հայեր են: Կ՛ունկնդրեմ Վարդոյէն՝ Հայկ Եազճեանի «Հանին» սկաւառակը՝ հայահունչ երաժշտութիւն, երեք հազար տարիներու խորքէն հնչող իր պարզ հնչերանգով, հայկական տուտուկի եւ քամանչայի ընկերակցութեամբ:
«Մեր տանիտէր պարտքկոր ընկան լէլէ, լէլէ, լէլէ ջան» կամ՝ «Լորի, լորի, լորի քամին», որուն բառերը կը շարունակուին զազերէնով, որ կ՛ըսէ՝ «Քնացիր մանկիկս հանգիստ քունով, գոնէ գիտեմ, թէ աչքերուս առջեւ ես, մինչեւ գայ «արթննալու» օրդ լորի, լորի, լորի քամին»:
Դարձեալ մէկը՝ ըստ երեւոյթին ինծի պէս նոր ծանօթացած այս մարդոց, այս անգամ Հայաստանէն կը գրէ. «Ի՞նչ լեզու է»: Տեսահոլովակներուն բոլոր դէմքերը արցունքոտ աչքերով, մանկական ցեխոտած դէմքերով, պատռտած հագուստներով, թշուառ մարդիկ են: Աստուա՛ծ իմ, մարդ որքան անխիղճ ըլլալու է, որ իր ականջները կարենայ փակել անոնց աղաղակին ու կոչին
Անոնք՝ կորսնցուցած իրենց մարդկային տարրական իրաւունքները, լեզուն եւ բարեկեցութիւնը, ուրիշի իշխանութեան տակ տակաւին կը շարունակեն գոյատեւել: Ծայրայեղ թշուառութեան մէջ ապրող հայեր: Հարց կու տամ ես ինծի. «Եթէ հոն մնացած ըլլայի, արդեօք ես ալ նոյն վիճակին մէջ չէի՞ ըլլար»:
«Անատոլուի Հայեր» էջին մէջ կը կարդամ թրքերէնով. «Իմացիր, թէ այն, ինչ որ տխուր սիրտով հեռացած ատեն ձգած ես, վերադարձիդ այլեւս չես գտներ»:
Անոնք իրենց հողին վրայ կ՛ուզեն ապրիլ իբրեւ հայ: Այս մարդիկը ամէն ժամանակէ աւելի պէտք ունին մեր կարեկցութեան ու աջակցութեան: Անոնց վրայ իշխող պետութիւնը ներքնապէս քայքայուած է, եւ անոնք երկրորդ եղեռնի մը վախով ու սարսափով կ՛ապրին: Միթէ՞ Արցախը, æաւախքը եւ Սփիւռքը Հայաստանի վիրաւոր հատուածներն ու զաւակներն են, իսկ ասոնք՝ ո՞չ:
Այսօր աւելի շատ հայութիւն ունինք Արեւմտահայաստանի մէջ, քան՝ Հայաստանի Հանրապետութեան մէջ: Անոնք երեք ու կէսէն չորս միլիոն հայութիւն են (ըստ Հայկազուն Ալվրցեան)ի, մեծ մասամբ քրտացած եւ թրքացած, որոնց հսկայ մէկ տոկոսը կ՛ուզէ վերադառնալ իր արմատներուն: Անոնց մեծ մասը գաղտնօրէն պահպանած է իր քրիստոնէական աւանդութիւնները, ամուսնացած՝ իրենց բախտակից ծպտեալ հայերու հետ, արտաքնապէս ներկայանալով իբրեւ թուրք կամ քիւրտ: Իսկ տարբեր փաղանգ մըն ալ թուրքերու եւ քիւրտերու կողմէ մուսուլմանութիւնը բռնութեամբ դաւանած է: Նոյնիսկ անոնց մէկ մասը տեղեակ անգամ չէ, թէ իրենց մեծ հայրերն ու մայրերը բռնի կրօնափոխութեան ենթարկուած են: Սակայն հսկայ մեծամասնութիւնը՝ ամուր գրկած իր գաղտնիքը, կը սպասէ արմատներուն վերադառնալ»։
Արեւմտահայաստանի հողին վրայ ոտք դնելու առանձնաշնորհումին տակաւին չարժանացայ, սակայն օրն ի բուն այդ հողերուն վրայ արեան գնով ապրող, այդ հողերու իսկական տէրերուն, որոնք ամուր կառչեցան իրենց հողին, այդ հայերուն հետ հոգեկան կապի մէջ ըլլալը զօրաւոր ներուժ կը պահանջէ
Վերջերս Ալաշկերտի շրջանէն ծագումով հայեր կը գրեն. «Ի՛նչ Զատիկ, ի՛նչ հատիկ, երբ մենք ուրախ չենք եւ ուրիշի իշխանութեան տակ եւ անոր սպառնալիքներով կ՛ապրինք»: Մշոյ դաշտի Վարդօ գիւղի կամ Մուշի, Տիգրանակերտի, Տարօնի, (եւ կարելի է շարել գրեթէ մեր բոլոր բռնագրաւուած գիւղերու եւ քաղաքներու անունները) մեր արիւնակից քոյրերն ու եղբայրներն են: Կորսնցուցած՝ լեզու, երջանկութիւն, բարօրութիւն, բայց ո՛չ հող, թէեւ ուրիշին կարծուած եւ ուրիշէն խլուած մեր հողը իր իսկական սեփականատէրերուն ոտքերուն, անոնց ոտքերուն տակ է: Ամուր կառչած իրենց հողին՝ դեռ կը սպասեն զիրենք լքած, բայց անգամ մըն ալ ետեւ չդարձած հարազատներուն

***BTW, the VARD in Vardavar is not from the meaning of rose, the flower. It is from WARD= from the Hittite WATAR- WATER.

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=18487&page=1&&do=findComment&comment=246196

Just as the name VARDAN-VARTAN means RED as in Vordan Karmir. The reason why we call him KARMIR VARDAN.

**** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_thyself

http://www.keghart.com/Yeran%20Kouyoumjian-Armenian-Golden-Age

The Armenian village Varto/Vardo was named as a Diminution of Vardavar, (or was it Vardan?) A Suburb of Mardin. Both Hrant and Rakel Dinks were born there.

Beautiful!

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JlF_RekYfg8/mqdefault.jpg

Hrant RIP

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2b/Hrant_Dink.jpg

Rakel

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/_np/7259/22997259.jpg

http://www.theglobetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/rakeldink.jpg

In fact her name is Rachel, Rahel in Armenian

There is not much to go about the Armenian name Rakel, Rakhel, Rahel .

The nglos pronounce it as reych@l.

The name "Rachel" is from an unused root meaning: "to journey as a ewe that is a good traveller."

(I dont get it., specially the ewe-female sheep ՄԱՔԻ/Maqi part, except in Arabic RAH means WENT and Rouh=GO)

Here is what Hrant/Hrand is.

HRANT =From the name of the planet Hrat or Hratn.
ՀՐԱՆՏ =ՀԲ նույնացնում է Հրատ կամ Հրատն մոլորակի անվան հետ: Արևմտահայերի մեջ հանդիպում ենք Հրանդ ձևով, որ խուլ բաղաձայնի ձայնեղացման արդյունք է /Տ -Դ/:

Why is that planet named Hrat, composed or hoor=fire and at=cut.?

In English Mars is also known as the Red Planet.

Yervant1 · September 29, 2014

http://www.ragmamoul.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/PhotoArticleLucineSahakian.jpg

The Identity of the Islamized Armenians Hemshin

*LUSINE SAHAKIAN*

http://www.ragmamoul.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lusine-sahakian.jpgRecently the media and some researchers have been focusing on the identity issues of the Hamshens, living on the territory of Turkey. Various comments are made without taking into account the historical reality of islamization and turkification policy and ensuing consequences, and there is no clear-cut distinction between the concepts identity and origin as well.

Still in the 18^th century the generations of the Hamshen Armenians, who were forced to convert to Islam, today live in ChamliHemshin (formerly called Lower Viche Vizhe), Hamshin (formerly called Hamshen), Pazar (formerly called Atina), Fynldyqly (formerly called Viche Vizhe), Ardashen (formerly called Artashen), Chaylei (formerly called Mavari), Ikizdere (formerly called Kuray-ı Sab) districts of Rize Province in Turkey, the part of which comprises the historical Armenian Hamshen district. In the course of time part of the Hamshens moved to Hopa and Borchka districts of Ardvin province. There are villages of the Hamshens in Erzurum, Sakarya and Düzce provinces as well. One can come across the Hamshens in small and big cities of Turkey. And the part that has preserved Christianity, its national image, due to the resistance, spread over the southeast seaside areas of the Black Sea and later, in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, most of the Hamshen Armenians, having survived the Genocide, settled in the northeast (Russian) seaside areas of the Black Sea, by preserving language, religion and national customs in Armenia.

Assimilation policy of the Ottoman Empire and later that of the Republican Turkey proceeded in several stages, with violent and various systematized methods, as well as through language assimilation. Not content with a religious conversion and understanding the role of ethnic differentiation of the language, the authorities of the Ottoman and the Republican Turkey found very important the turkification of the peoples who were subjected to them, thus, completing their assimilation process. The generations of the Hamshen Armenians, Islamized in this reality, gradually lost important components of the Armenian identity in the Ottoman-Turkish environment, such as the language (except for the Hamshens living in Hopa and Borchka districts and a few villages of Sakarya province) and religion, were cut off from the Armenian culture and were completely assimilated into the Turkish society, preserving only their local ethnographic, as they call it, Hamshen identity.

In general, language is one of the means of ethnic resistance and self-defense, which expresses and maintains national peculiarity and scopes. National identity features and numerous peculiarities typical of the given ethnos are enshrined in the mentality, word-stock and folklore. It is the language that passes a national culture, traditions to generations by playing a role of ethnic differentiation as well. Language and self-consciousness have always been closely related. Language is perhaps one of the most decisive factors of the formation of national self-consciousness and identity.

Ruling circles of the multinational Ottoman Empire and Republican Turkey knew quite well that assimilation of foreigners was quite a complicated process, especially when there was an “ethnic incompatibility” (for more details about the role of the language as a defender of ethnos see Nalchajyan A., Ethnic Psychology, Yerevan, 2001, p. 427-428), as it is called in modern ethno psychology term, between the dominant nation and others. Language could always keep alive the national self-consciousness of the peoples under its subordination. Hence, the policy of foreigner assimilation and destruction, adopted by the Ottoman Empire as well as by the Turkish Republic, was conditioned by the destruction of these circumstances.

As a result of such pressures, Turkish language was reinforced at the expense of the Armenian language among the Hamshens. Though the Hamshen Armenians settled in Turkey initially pretended to accept Islam, unfortunately both time, environment, Turkish consistent policy of assimilation and the atmosphere of fear and various repressions reached their aim. And today, the Armenian identity of some of them is expressed merely through the memory of genetic origin and preservation of some cultural layers.

A German author Hübner M. writes “one cannot possess identity, it comes up automatically, but when it is acquired, still it cannot be considered safe. There is always a need and necessity to protect the identity from the foreigner.” (Hübner M. “La beurette” Vom aus der Vorstaedte ins Herz der französischen Gesellschaft, Frankfurt am Main, 1996, p. 23).

Assimilation policy of the foreigners in the Republican Turkey is legally stipulated in Article 88 of the first Constitution dated 1924, which was changed into Article 66 in 1982 – “Everyone bound to the Turkish state through the bond of citizenship is a Turk.”

On October 2005 the Turkish government considered and approved the “National Security Document” submitted by the Security Council, which once again emphasizes the fundamental principles of the Republic of Turkey “one state one nation, one flag one language provisions”. The document stipulates the principle of considering every citizen of Turkey “Turk by nationality”.

Though Prime Minster of Turkey R. Erdoğan admits in his announcement, made on November 2005, that there are approximately 30 ethnic groups in the country with “their internal identities”, however, he immediately reminds that they have an “upper identity”, that is, the citizenship of the Republic of Turkey.

Today, in the identity document (Kimlik) of the Christian Armenians living in Turkey, which is used within the borders of the country, the word “Christian” is mentioned in front of the religious affiliation and the word “Turk” in front of the nationality in the passport. The Armenians also have a code numbered 31, which prompts the relevant instances about their national belonging.

Up till now active actions are taken to tangle the identity of the Islamized Hamshens. Misleading scientific books (there are Hamshens among the authors) are published to reject both the Armenian origin of the Hamshens and the Armenian traces left in Hamshen on the whole.

As an interesting fact it should be noted that the Hamshens of Hopa and Borchka districts managed to preserve their Armenian local language – Hamshen dialect in the vast Turkish ocean and still use it in their everyday speech. As our studies show, today the number of the Hamshens in Hopa and Borchka districts is about 25-30,000. However, the young generation is already forgetting or does not use its dialect and mostly focuses on the Turkish. At the same time it should be noted that they don’t know Armenian letters, except for a few intellectuals, who learn Mesrobian letters for the scientific-cognitive purposes. Due to the preservation of the Hamshen dialect, some Hamshens of these districts admit their Armenian origin. Irrespective of the Turkish propaganda, they understand quite well that Turkish is not their spoken language. Generally speaking, Marxist and consequently atheistic ideas are spread all over Hopa and Borchka districts, which, as we think, play a certain psychological self-defensive role in the Islamic-Turkish environment to maintain its own kind and ethnographic description. However, there are Hamshens who either refrain from speaking about their origin or consider themselves Turks or Hamshens (the Homshets) at the best. Some Hamshens living in Hopa underscore that they know about their Armenian origin, know that once they were the part of the Armenians, were the carriers of the Armenian culture, but in the course of time they lost ties and they consider themselves neither Armenian nor Turk, but rather Hamshen. We believe that such perception of the identity is also a model of maintaining their kind in the Turkish reality and adapting to that environment.

Unable to uproot the Armenian language from the Hamshens living in Ardvin province once and for all, the Turkish authorities muddle up and falsify the history of Hamshen, the origin of the Hamshens through official historiography and declare that their Armenian speech is a Turkic dialect.

The turkification took much deeper roots among the Hamshens of Rize Province. The Hamshes of Rize Province have forgotten their mother tongue – Armenian language, and speak Turkish. Though some admit their Armenian origin, they immediately add that they have been already turkified. They are of the opinion that they come from the Turkic tribes. In one of his articles Chamlehemshin journalist and a specialist in the national history Jean Ugur Biryol writes: “Today most Hamshens deny the fact of being Armenian. In fact, local Armenian is expressed through the usage of place names used in this district and names of the objects maintained in the everyday life.” (Biryol C. U., Hemşinliler üzerine, Hemşinliler Ermeni mi?, Radikal, 2005, Haziran 12). Here you can come across those who do not consider themselves Turks but simply they know a Hamshen (Hemşinli), the ancestors of which were Armenians. In a number of districts of Rize the radical Islam keeps on bolstering its position, which has substantially affected the identity of the Hamshens and one can meet fanatic Mohammedans. One can come across those with Marxist ideas and active leftists among them as well. However, Turkish nationalist ideas are rooted in Senoz valley of Çayeli district. A triple-crescent flag of the Turkish nationalists can be seen hanging from the windows of the Hamshens’ houses. Even in their environment the word Armenian (Ermeni) has a negative and offensive meaning. Senoz valley gave birth to the prominent political and military figures, lawyers, doctors and teachers. Ex-prime minister of Turkey Mesut Yilmaz from the Vasap dynasty (it is a corrupted version of the Armenian name Vasak) comes from Khakhonj village (present-day Çataldere) of this district. According to the non-official data the number of the Hamshens living in Rize together with the ones settled in other towns makes about 60 thousand.

Through a famous falsifier M. Sakaoğlu the Turkish historiography declares that the Hamshens haven’t known any other language except Turkish. The Turkish language they speak is a dialect of ancient Oguz or Saka tribes (Sakaoğlu M. Ali, Dünden Bugüne Hemşin. Karadeniz’den Bir Tarih, Yeniyurt Yayınları, Ankara, 1990, s. 53-54). Admitting that the language of the Hamshens living in Hopa is the Armenian dialect, another Turkish falsifier M. Kırzıoğlu ( Kırzıoğlu M. F., I. Selim Cağında Hopa ile Arhavi Köyleri, TFA icinde, yıl 17, cilt 10, no. 201 (Nisan 1966), İstanbul, s. 4104.) suggests concocted theories about the origin of the carriers of the very language. M. Kırzıoğlu’s concoctions, unfortunately, became an integral part of the Hamshens’ identity. Many of them are so far from the Armenian roots, that they consider themselves to be descended either from Oguz, Balkar and Akada tribes, or from Central Asia and Khorasan.

And even if the Hamshens living in Rize know about their Armenian origin (and they do know, because they use numerous everyday Armenian words, place and plant names in their spoken Turkish language), they prefer keeping silence or simply rejecting. So, this is the current state of the Armenian generations, who were forced to convert to Islam in the 18^th century and in future.

The policy of islamization must be assessed as one of the forms of the genocide manifestations, to which this part of the Armenians was subjected – they were forced to be far from their roots and national origin, and culture. Raphael Lemkin’s definition of genocide, as specified in his book “Axis Rule in Occupied Europe” (Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1944), also included the things which can be considered as non-physical, but particularly psychological effects of genocide, which he personally described as follows: “Generally speaking, genocide does not necessarily mean the immediate destruction of a nation,… First of all, a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of essential foundations of the national groups, with the aim of annihilating the groups themselves should be distinguished.” The objectives of such a plan would be the destruction of the political and social institutions, culture, language, national feelings, religion, personal security and disintegration of the economic existence of national groups and so on. “Genocide consists of two stages, the first one is the destruction of the national model of a group under pressure, and the second one is the compulsion of the oppressor’s national model. This compulsion, in its turn, can be implemented on the suppressed population, which is allowed to stay in the territory after the extermination of the population by the oppressor’s kinsmen and its colonization.” (http://www.genocide-museum.am/arm/un.php).

Article 1 of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide dated 1948 says that Genocide is a crime irrespective of the fact whether it is implemented during a peace or war-time period, and that the signatory parties are obliged to prevent it and punish those who implement genocide. Article 2 of the Convention says that Genocide is a crime of intentional destruction of a national, ethnic, racial and religious group, in whole or in part.

Thus, as the result of this systematic assimilation policy, the Hamshens, who were forced to convert to Islam, lost their real Armenian national identity, retaining only the local ethnographic description through recollections about their Armenian origin.

www.repairfuture.net

About the Author

Lusine Sahakyan

Head of the Department of Armenian-Ottoman Relations at Institute for Armenian Studies of Yerevan State University

Arpa · September 29, 2014

RAKEL DINK

Rachel Dink, Hrant Dinks widow, addressed a speech to the guests as well. She called on the Armenians of Dersim not to fear the idea of returning to the roots.

ՌԱՔԵԼ, ՌԱԽԵԼ, ՌԱՀԵԼ

Our latter day Warrior Sister, not unlike Shoushanik of Vardananq.,[1] our own Joan of Arc if you will.[2] , and Soseh Mayrik reincarnated?

http://www.yerakouyn.com/?p=63662

Armenian Dersim support day was conducted in Lausanne city of Switzerland, Armenpress reports citing the Turkish Demokrathaber.net. Issues on the genocide policy implemented against the Armenians of Dersim and their present state were discussed during the event.
Representatives of the Union of Dersim Armenians delivered a speech at the event, noting that Hrant Dinks belief and position, which cost him an entire life, have always inspired the Armenians of Dersim. They drew attention to the fact that what happened with the Armenians of Dersim before and after 1915 was genocide.
Highlighting the repair works of churches, monasteries and schools in the region, Stefan Jem Halavurt said that their upcoming plans include starting of religion classes and construction of a church in the center of Dersim.
Hovsep Seyran, another participant of the event, stated that the genocide is going on today too, just in different forms. According to him, the attempts of destroying the culture and the traces remained from the past are genocide-associated activities.
Rachel Dink, Hrant Dinks widow, addressed a speech to the guests as well. She called on the Armenians of Dersim not to fear the idea of returning to the roots.
Singer Hasmig Harutyunian and world famous duduk player Jivan Gasparyan performed at the event.

===

http://www.yerakouyn.com/?p=63666

Զուիցերիոյ Լոզան քաղաքին մէջ Հայ Տերսիմ խորագրով իրականացած է Տերսիմի հայերուն զօրակցութեան օր Տերսիմի հայերու նկատմամբ կիրառուած ցեղասպան քաղաքականութեան եւ անոնց ներկայ վիճակին վերաբերեալ: Ըստ Armenpress.am-ի՝ այս մասին կը տեղեկացնէ թրքական Demokrathaber.net-ը:
Ձեռնարկի ընթացքին ելոյթներով հանդէս եկած են տերսիմահայերու ընկերութեան ներկայացուցիչներ Սթեֆան Ճեմ Հալաւուրթը եւ Ռոպեր Ռեճեփ Քայեանը, որոնք նշած են, որ Հրանդ Տինքի` սեփական կեանքը արժած հաւատքն ու կեցուածքը մեծապէս ոգեշնչած են Տերսիմի հայերը:
Անոնք ուշադրութիւն հրաւիրած են այն փաստին վրայ, որ 1915 թուականէն առաջ եւ յետոյ տերսիմահայերու հետ տեղի ունեցածը իսկական ցեղասպանութիւն եղած է: Կարեւոր համարելով տարածաշրջանին մէջ եկեղեցիներու, վանքերու եւ դպրոցներու վերանորոգման աշխատանքները` Հալաւուրթը յայտնած է, որ իրենց յառաջիկայ ծրագրերուն մէջ են կրօնական դասընթացներ սկսիլը եւ Տերսիմի կեդրոնը եկեղեցի կառուցելը:
Ձեռնարկի մասնակիցներէն Յովսէփ Սէյրանի փաստած է, որ ցեղասպանութիւնը այսօր ալ կը շարունակուի տարբեր ձեւերով: Անոր համոզումով` անցեալէն մնացած հետքերու եւ մշակոյթի ոչնչացման ուղղուած ջանքերը եւս ցեղասպանութեան ուղեկցող գործողութիւններ են:
Իր խօսքով ներկաներուն դիմած է ձեռնարկին ներկայ Ռաքէլ Տինքը` Հրանդ Տինքի այրին , որ տերսիմահայերուն կոչ ուղղած է չվախնալու սեփական արմատներուն վերադառնալու գաղափարէն: Միայն այդպէս հնարաւոր պիտի ըլլայ հասարակութեան նպաստել իրականութեան հետ առերեսուելուն: Մէկս միւսիս աւելի մտերմացնողը մեր ընդհանուր ցաւերն են,- ըսած է Ռաքէլ Տինքը:
Ձեռնարկին ելոյթներով հանդէս եկած են երգչուհի Յասմիկ Յարութիւնեանը, աշխարհահռչակ դուդուկահար Ջիւան Գասպարեանը

1. Shoushanik. The brave flag bearing daughter of Vardan.

http://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Շուշանիկ

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-87p4K0ENWNI/Ua1xtkraugI/AAAAAAAAUcA/7GoWju0UBYs/s1600/3298995553_91f781209e.jpg

2. Joan of Arc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc

===

btw. Dink is a kind of cheese.

We are forever grateful to Hrant who dropped the turkifying JI from his surname.

PS. Please help me. I cannot find what the Armenian name of Dersim was. Is it a contraction of Տէր Սիմոն/Der Simon? Remember also that in Aramaic DER means convent as in Der El Zor or Der al Arman ,Armenian Convent in Jerusalem. Dersim=Mnadour?

Yervant1 · October 30, 2014

RECLAIMING IDENTITY: MORE "HIDDEN" ARMENIANS IN TURKEY RETURN TO THEIR ORIGINS

Genocide | 29.10.14 | 11:31

By Gayane Mkrtchyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

All the names of locations in Turkish - Ghamishli, Syria, Sasun,
Lusakert tell me that I am listening to another of stories of
thousands of Armenians, but with one difference that this family did
not emigrate, it returned to Turkey continuing to live on their own
land only after converting.

"Since birth we've known that we are Armenians from Sasun. We had a big
family but only three of us survived - my grandfather, my grandfather's
brother and his son. At that time, a woman takes them to Ghamisha,
Syria, however, a part of the family returns to Diarbekir, the other
part years later, in 1946 - to Armenia, Lusakert," Turkay Abdulgafur,
a member of local Armenians' union, the head of St.

Kirakos Church Chairmen's Board in Diarbekir, said.

He is one of the Armenians in Diarbekir who got baptized in St.

Kirakos Church and changed his Muslim into Christian on his ID card.

"On Turkish ID cards they necessarily specify the religion you belong
to. During the last 3-4 years 25 people from Diarbekir got baptized and
changed Muslim into Christian on their ID card. It is very difficult
to be an Armenian in Diarbekir, moreover, to officially say about that,
but the movement has already begun," Turkay Abdulgafur said.

Diarbekir (former Tigranakert) is situated in the south-east of Turkey,
at the foothills of Sasna Mountain.

At the end of the 19th century 10,000 Armenians lived in Diarbekir,
and they had St. Sargis five-altar and St. Kirakos seven-altar
churches. The majority of Armenians were killed in 1895 during Hamid
Massacres, 5,000 Armenians were killed during the 1915 Great Genocide.

Today Diarbekir has a population of around 845,000, the majority of
whom are Kurds.

"Some 3-4 years ago there were only a few Armenians in Diarbekir who
did not conceal their Armenian identity, but today as a result of our
efforts their number has grown. We organize various events together
with those Armenians, for instance, at St. Kirakos Church once a week
we prepare breakfast, at the latest breakfast 82 people gathered,
today there are around 140-150 Armenians in Diarbekir. Many of these
are Muslims by identity, but introduce themselves as Armenians, thus
they recognize their national identity as well," the Armenian from
Diarbekir said.

Turkay Abdulgafur said that when after the Great Genocide Armenians
living in Turkey got spread all over the world just like pomegranate
seeds, for 99 years they have had various hardships in different
parts of the world, but it was twice as difficult for them.

"After surviving the Genocide we were made to convert to Islam not
being able to introduce ourselves as Armenians, did not have an
occasion or an opportunity to voice our identity in public. To save
our existence we had to pretend to be fanatic Muslims not to endanger
our families and ourselves," he said. "All Armenians know about their
identity, but they were subjected to 100 years of assimilation, as
a result they almost completely turned Kurdish, we can even say so,
and that is exactly why we must take serious steps for revealing
those people."

Being well-aware of the political atmosphere in Turkey he mentioned
that Turkey now has lived great progress as compared to what it was
only three years ago, and that is also the credit of the Turkish
intelligence who endanger their lives to speak about the events
of 1915, they criticize the government for refusing to face their
own history.

Canadian-Armenian pianist, construction engineer Raffi Petrosian and
his adherents joined efforts for realization of Diarbekir St. Kirakos
Church repair works, it is considered one of the biggest cathedrals
of the Christian world. In 2011 a mass was held there.

"St. Kirakos church must attract all hidden Armenians in Turkey like
a magnet. And this turned into a reality much earlier than we thought.

Many Armenians who were forced to convert after 1915 (or were simply
orphans brought up by the Turks or the Kurds) today start thinking
that they have Armenian roots in their family, they revive their
identity and return to their origin.

Today we have already baptized a few people in St. Kirakos Church. And
the majority say they are Armenians, but still continue as Muslims,"
Petrosian said.

Upon his initiative 50 'hidden' Armenians from Diarbekir in summer
visited Armenia within the framework of the 'Come Home' project
organized by the Ministry of the Diaspora.

"This is a new reality we must accept, understand that apart from
Armenians in Armenia, Artsakh, Diaspora now there are also Islamic,
hidden Armenians, of whom there are many in Turkey. We must encourage
them to feel, to be more Armenian.

"That is why in Diarbekir, together with the local City Hall lessons
of Armenian were held. And graduates of that program were brought to
Armenia as a prize to have successfully accomplished the training. It
was with great joy and excitement that we came to Armenia. I was
excited to show them around in Armenia, and they were excited to see
Armenia," Petrosian said.

http://armenianow.com/genocide/58043/armenia_turkey_hidden_cryptoarmenians_identity_diarbekir

Yervant1 · November 6, 2014

MORE HIDDEN ARMENIANS REVEAL THEIR TRUE IDENTITY IN TURKEY

18:44, 05 Nov 2014

Aida Avetisyan
Public Radio of Armenia

Armenians live in Turkey at the expense of violation of their identity
and often have to hide it, Turkish Armenian Abdul Gafuri said in an
interview with Public Radio of Armenia.

According to him, the hidden Armenians of Turkey have recently
started to reveal their Christian faith. Over 25 Turkish Armenians
have already baptized and changed their ID cards, he said.

There are two Armenian communities in Turkey - Christian Armenians,
who number 60-70 thousand, and Islamized Armenians, whose number
reaches about 4-6 million in Western Armenia and other parts of Turkey.

Abdul Gafuri lives in Diyarbekir and says that being an Armenian
there is not easy. After the Genocide Armenians scattered all over
the world like pomegranate seeds, and those who stayed in Turkey had
to hide their identity.

"There have been times when we have had to present ourselves 'more
Muslim than the Muslims" in order to survive. We Speak Armenian at
home, but pretend Muslims outside," he said.

The 4-5 million Armenians, who changed their religion nearly a century
ago, are alienated from Armenia and the Diaspora, and feel closer
to Turks and Kurds," Abdul Gafuri says. He advises to take steps to
re-establish ties.

He said there are about 150 Islamized Armenians in Diyarbekir, who have
changed their religion, but still maintain their Armenian identify.

"A few years ago one could meet just 3-4 Armenians in Diyarbekir,
who would reveal their true identity. Today their number has grown and
they meet once a week at St. Kirakos Church. There were 82 Armenians
at the most recent dinner," he said.

Four years ago, when Islamized Armenians started to reveal their
identity and launched a campaign to raise awareness about the Armenian
Genocide, Abdul Gafuri became one of the first to baptize and change
his ID card to change the religion from Islam to Christianity.

Speaking to Public Radio of Armenia, Abdul Gafuri noted that Turkey
is seriously preparing for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. As for the appointment of Etyen Mahcupyan as adviser to
Turkish Prime Minister, Gafuri said it could possibly provide an
opportunity to the Turkish Government to get to know more about the
Armenian Genocide.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/11/05/more-hidden-armenians-reveal-their-true-identity-in-turkey/

Yervant1 · November 18, 2014

WE NEED SERIOUS EFFORTS TO REVEAL TURKEY'S CRYPTO-ARMENIANS, SAYS CHURCH LEADER

10:40 * 17.11.14

Most of Turkey's crypto-Armenians know about their ethnic origins,
but those who are descendents of Genocide survivors have assimilated
to Kurds in the past 100 years, says the ethnic Armenian head of
Diyrabekir's St Kirakos church's council.

"I think serious work needs to be carried out to bring those people
to light," Turkai Abdulgufur told Tert.am.

He said that an increasing number of Diyarbekir-Armenians admit their
ethnic origins (compared to just a couple of people three or four years
ago) and, thanks to the past years' considerable efforts, they now
often gather for joint events, such as dinner at the St Kirakos church.

"There were 82 people at the latest dinner event. There are now about
140-150 Armenians most of whom have a Muslim identity, but they also
take their Armenian identity under care," he said, noting that the
town is now in a state of relative calm compared to the tensions
observed 3-4 years ago.

As for his Armenian roots, he said he has known about it since birth.

"We [our ancestors] had a big family in Sasun, of which only three
people survived - my grandfather, my grandfather's brother and his
nephew. We, who stay in Turkey, know that we are Armenians, and we
spoke the little Armenian we knew in family, but out of our family,
we lived with the identity of Muslims," he added.

Abdulgufur admitted that he was registered as a Muslim in his previous
ID document, adding that he later changed his identity as a Christian
after being baptized.

"[The process] began with me; 25 people were baptized in Diyarbekir
in the past three to four years and had their religious affiliation
changed," he noted.

Abdulgufur added that Armenians now set up associations of compatriots
in different cities and towns to unite their efforts for future
progress.

Asked whether he is aware of Turkey's countermeasures ahead of
the Genocide centennial, the church leader said he knows that the
country is seriously preparing for the anniversary. "There are serious
preparations of which we aren't aware. But we can state that steps
are being taken drain intellectuals ideas," he replied.

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/11/17/Armenia-turqai/

Yervant1 · January 29, 2015

Islamized Armenians are baptized and learning the language - diaspora minister

14:14, 25.12.2014

YEREVAN. - The Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia continues to carry out
activities with the Islamized and clandestine Armenians.

Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakopyan told the aforesaid to reporters,
but she added that, for understandable reasons, this work is not
widely presented.

"But we are pleased with the results. The Government of Armenia helps
them visit the historical homeland.

"Moreover, an exception is made for the [respective] people over the
age of 20 to be permitted to participate in the [ministry's] Come Home
[motherland visiting] program, which is intended for
[Diaspora-Armenian] teenagers.

"Two of them were not only baptized, but they stayed in Armenia to
learn Armenian. Later, they will return to Tigranakert [i.e., today's
Diyarbakir, Turkey] to open an Armenian school there. Hundreds of
people in that region want to learn Armenian," the minister stated, in
particular.

Armenia News - NEWS.am

Yervant1 · March 5, 2015

DERSIM LEADERS EMBRACE ARMENIAN ROOTS, PLAN ARMENIA TRIP

By Raffi Bedrosyan on March 4, 2015 in Featured, Headline, News //

Armenian Weekly readers will remember well the historic first journey
taken by 50 "hidden Armenians" from Diyarbakir (Dikranagerd) last
August to Armenia. These brave individuals were the grandchildren
of forcefully Islamicized/Turkified/Kurdified Armenians from 1915,
who had the determination and guts to return to their roots after
the reconstruction of Sourp Giragos Church in Diyarbakir, the first
Armenian church to be resurrected in Turkey since 1915. As a reward
for participating in an Armenian-language course organized by the
local Diyarbakir Sur municipality and the Church Foundation, they were
taken on an unforgettable journey to Armenia, to better understand
their forgotten history, culture, and heritage.

Armenian language students in Dersim

I am happy to report that the "coming out" of the hidden Armenians
is not restricted to Diyarbakir. Now, it is the turn of the hidden
Armenians of Dersim (officially, the Tunceli province) in Turkey.

Dersim is a vast mountainous region with beautiful valleys, dotted
with hundreds of picturesque villages between Erzurum (known as Garin
by Armenians) and Erzinjan (known as Yerzinga) in eastern Turkey.

Prior to 1915, Alevi Kurds and Armenians populated the region. The
Alevi Kurds, who have traditionally been sympathetic to the Armenians,
did not participate in the 1915 massacre and plunder of the Armenians;
in fact, they saved tens of thousands of Armenians, either by
protecting them against the Ottoman Turkish Army within their own
villages, or providing them safe passage toward Russian Armenia.

In the Armenian language classroom

As a "reward" for protecting the Armenians and for "rebelling" against
the new regime, the Alevi Kurds paid dearly 20 years later, in the
1930's, when the Republican Turkish Army indiscriminately killed most
of them, including thousands of assimilated, Kurdified Armenians. The
army's methods varied from assembling the civilian population--men,
women, and children--into caves filled with poisonous gases, to
killing them with machine guns.

Fast forward to today, and hidden Armenians are emerging from among
the Alevi Kurd population of the region, reclaiming their Armenian
identity, changing their Turkish/Kurdish names to Armenian ones, and
beginning to learn Armenian. After overcoming numerous obstacles,
and logistical and organizational challenges, an Armenian-language
course was launched on Feb. 1, with dozens--young and old--registering
for the three times-per-week classes. An Armenian and Alevi cultural
association has also been formed, named "Deradost," which stands
for Dersim Armenians and Alevis Friendship Society. There is also
"Dersiyad," which promotes cooperation and support among Armenians
in Dersim, as well as Dersim Armenians in Istanbul and abroad, mostly
in Germany.

Mihran Prgitch lectures the students

Similar to the initiative that took Diyarbakir's hidden Armenians to
Armenia, a trip is now planned for some of Dersim's hidden Armenians
to visit Armenia in late March. But there is an added significance
and a historic first in this trip: All 12 of the participants are
elected village officials of hidden Armenian villages in Dersim. During
this trip, they will learn about Armenian history and culture, but,
through TV and media, they will also show the Armenians of Armenia
and the diaspora the historic Armenian churches and monuments from
their own villages, prior to 1915 and now. The trip is sponsored
by an individual from Canada, as well as by the Calouste Gulbenkian
Foundation, following several e-mails and phone calls between Lisbon,
Dersim, Istanbul, Yerevan, and Toronto.

Details about this historic trip and the reflections of the Dersim
village officials during their visit to Armenia will be revealed in
future articles.

http://armenianweekly.com/2015/03/04/dersim-embrace-roots/

Yervant1 · March 5, 2015

THE EMEKSIZ SISTERS OF ISTANBUL: "THE ARMENIANS CALL US TURKS, AND THE TURKS CALL US ARMENIANS"

Anna Muradyan

19:13, March 4, 2015

The Emeksiz sisters of Istanbul are on a mission to tell people in
Armenia about the fate of their Armenian grandfather Khachik and
others who shared the same fate due to the 1915 Genocide.

The two sisters, both Emeksiz, are named after their Armenian
grandfather Khachik Emeksizian.

Born in the Uzunmahmud village in the Ottoman Kaza of Ordu on the
Black Sea, Khachik Emeksizian was seven years old in 1915. The boy
survived the Genocide because he was taken to a nearby village and
given to a Turkish family who raised him as a Muslim. The law at the
time was that children seven and younger would not be sent on the
road to exile but would be distributed to local Turkish families.

The sisters, who call their grandfather Hachik (there is no letter
"kh" in the Turkish alphabet), claim they feel neither Armenian or
Turkish; just human beings.

"We are a part of history, and I want that within Armenian society
my grandfather be known as an Armenian," says the elder sister Emeksiz.

"What happened to my grandfather wasn't of his choosing and neither
of mine."

There were some 13,565 Armenians living in the Ordu Kaza (on the eve
of 1915 according to Raymond Kevorkian's The Armenian Genocide.

Uzunmahmud is said to have had a population of 388. Kevorkian states
that most of the Armenians of Ordu had roots in Hamshen and had settled
relatively late in Ordu. Three thousand of the kaza's Armenians resided
in the principal town (Ordu) and the others lived scattered in about
29 villages.

Seven year-old Hacik never forgot that he was Armenian. He never forgot
his parents, the house he lived in and where it was located. He even
kept the root of his surname in the hope that one day he'd find lost
relatives through the name.

The sisters told me that two years after the Genocide their
grandfather found out that some people had come to the church in
his old village. It turns out they were looking for Armenian orphans
to send to the United States, France and elsewhere. Hacik told the
sisters that he didn't want to go and returned to his adoptive family.

At the time, the boy was afraid that surviving family members might
look for him and not find him.

One of Hachik's cousins was sent to France in this fashion. Decades
later, the sisters did a last name search and found the cousin.

At the age of twenty, Hachik married one of the daughters of the
household and started a family.

"I am very angry because my grandfather was left alone without a
family or possessions," says the younger sister Emeksiz. "We know
the family had land that was used by others."

Hachik Emeksiz had six sons and many grandchildren. They all know
his story but not all want to accept it. Emeksiz says her grandfather
always told them the story, saying it was their history as well and
that they must know it.

"My being angry will not change my grandfather's life or past. But
he is not alone. There were thousands of children like him," says the
younger Emeksiz. "We just want to talk about this matter to Armenians
and Turks because Armenians call us Turks and Turks call us Armenians."

She tells me that her grandfather always brought up the name of his
sister, Nazlou. She had long hair, down to her waist, and he always
played with her tresses.

"I am mad that they left no one from my grandfather's family and he
had to start his story anew," says the younger sister. "For example,
we have relatives on our grandmother's side but no one on his side
of the family. There were six or seven children in my grandfather's
family. The family which adopted him wasn't his real family.

The sisters say they do not talk about their grandfather being Armenian
everywhere. It could make them hate targets of Turkish nationalists
very easily.

I am neither religious nor a nationalist. This creates problems in
certain circles," says the elder Emeksiz. "Many of my cousins don't
want the word to get out. They want this story to be forgotten."

Nevertheless, she says that she tells the story about her grandfather
being Armenian and that many Turks are amazed to hear that Armenians
lived in Anatolia. They even ask when Armenians came to those lands.

Grandfather Khachik died fourteen years ago and the sisters now regret
not spending more time with him. They didn't live in the same house
but visited periodically.

"When he died, only then did we realize that we should have spent more
time with him and listened to him a bit more, says the elder Emeksiz.

"We should have recorded what he said. I feel that we should do
something for him."

The elder Emeksiz studies film making at an Istanbul university. She's
decided to makr a film about her grandfather and the family story.

"My grandfather was seven when he was orphaned. There were thousands
of kids like him. I want to tell this story to people through film."

http://hetq.am/eng/news/58834/the-emeksiz-sisters-of-istanbul-the-armenians-call-us-turks-and-the-turks-call-us-armenians.html

Yervant1 · March 25, 2015

DERSIM ARMENIANS IN SEARCH FOR THEIR TRUE IDENTITY

19:34, 24 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Nine Mayors from Dersim have arrived in Armenia at the initiative
of the "Modus Vivendi" center and with the support of the Armenian
Ministry of Diaspora. The Mayors have visited Tsitsernakabersd to
pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. They
have also been at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Khor Virap,
the History Museum of Armenian and Matenadaran.

The Mayos met with reporters today to share their impressions. They
spoke about the serach for their identity and the problems of returning
to their roots. They also presented the joint programs with Zazas
and Alevis.

Head of Modus Vivendi Center Ara Papyan said the initiative aims to
provide Dersim Armenians with an opportunity to get to know Armenia
ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Ara Papyan said they have worked with the Dersim Province for several
years now. They often organize festivals featuring groups from Armenia.

Many residents of Dersim now openly accept their Armenian descent and
even baptize. Others, however, continue to hide their true identity
out of decades-long fear.

Considering all this, it's hard to calculate today what percentage of
Dersim residents is of Armenian descent. The number could be between
20 and 90. One thing is clear: people in Dersim have started to return
to their Armenian roots.

Chairman of the Dersim Union of Armenians and Alevis Sercan Saritas
attaches importance to the organization of Armenian language courses.

"We want to intensify the social communication. During a festival in
July we'll host guests from Arnenia," he said.

Representative of the Armenian Union of Dersim Miran Pirgic said "we
have a pain and we should think what we can do jointly." "Genocide
is seated so deep in people that our brothers in Istanbul even find
it hard to accept our Armenian descent, because the names of all our
brothers in Dersim are changed, "Turkified" or "Kurdified." However,
the reality cannot be hidden any more. We have already disclosed
the truth. We only need the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey and the
Etchmiadzin Catholicosate to accept us," he said.

The Mayors said a number of joint events will now be organized. Joint
organizations have been set up to implement joint programs. The guests
also said they have compiled the list of Armenian churches in Dersim.

They intend to maintain and renovate the 162 churches. They work in
cooperation with the Istanbul-based Union of Armenian Architects.

One of the Mayors said that because of the importance the Turkish
authorities attach to the cooperation with the European Union, they
sometimes ignore the initiatives of Dersim Armenians. But they exert
greater pressure through the Istanbul Patriarchate, i.e. by creating
problems with the baptism.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/03/24/dersim-armenians-in-search-for-their-true-identity/

Yervant1 · March 28, 2015

ZEKI SAROJAN WAS BAPTIZED IN ETCHMIADZIN UNDER THE NAME ARMENAK

March 27 2015

"Hrant Dink's assassination gave courage to many Armenians living
in the city of Dersim to speak out about their Armenian roots,"
told the Armenian-origin Zeki Sarojan in conversation with us.

Both his mother and father are Armenians, but converted to Turks. In
his words, after the death of Hrant Dink, when many Armenians living
in Turkey were afraid to speak out of their Armenian roots and
even left Turkey, many crypto Armenians in Dersim began to reveal
themselves. "Six month ago I came to Armenia and was baptized in in
Etchmiadzin under the name Armenak. Armenak was a revolutionist in
Turkey and was one of the leaders of Rural Workers' Liberation Army,
who was killed by the Turkish government authorities.

Both my mother and father are Armenians. My father's grandfather
was selling fabrics in Dersim, he was a rich and famous Agha. After
the death of my father's grandfather, the Turks began the Armenian
massacre, my father's grandmother and her three sons was left orphaned
and during the massacre, another rich Turkish Agha who was her
husband's partner hid them in his house. The Turks knew which family
they are hiding and demanded them to surrender, but this Turkish Agha
has fought and has not handed over my father's grandmother with her
three sons. So, they were rescued. Neither my father nor my mother
remember anything from the genocide, my mother was only telling that
her uncle hardly escaped. "

Zeki Sarojay's Armenian surname is Karibyan.

Arpine SIMONYAN

Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2015/03/27/169476/

Yervant1 · April 27, 2015

HIDDEN ARMENIANS OF TURKEY SEEK TO RECLAIM THEIR ERASED IDENTITIES

For the first 25 years of his life, Armen Demirjian thought he was
Kurdish. Then the elders in his village told him his family's secret:
His grandfather was Armenian, a survivor of the genocide carried out
by the Ottoman Turks a century ago. New York Times reports.

"I was completely confused," said Mr. Demirjian, 54. "I was very sad
as well. I was raised with the Kurdish culture and history."

Mr. Demirjian, whose grandfather was sheltered by a Kurdish family as
a child, held on to his secret. In recent years, though, as Turkey
has allowed minorities to identify themselves more freely, he has
embraced in full his family's truth.

He changed his name to his family's Armenian one, participated in
the restoration of a church in this city, took Armenian language
lessons and started delivering Agos, an Armenian newspaper published
in Istanbul, to others in this area with a similar past. When his
cellphone rings, it blares a song by the Armenian-Syrian singer and
songwriter Lena Chamamyan.

"From now on," he said, "I want to carry on with my Armenian heritage
and culture."

The genocide and expulsion of Armenians from eastern Anatolia in World
War I, an atrocity whose centennial will be commemorated this week with
ceremonies around the world, is largely a story of the dead: Historians
estimate that nearly 1.5 million Armenians were killed. But there
are also the stories of the tens of thousands of survivors, mostly
women and children, who were taken in by local Turkish families. They
converted to Islam and took on Kurdish or Turkish identities.

Now, a growing number of their descendants are identifying as Armenian,
and their personal experiences contrast with the perennial denial by
the Turks and the lasting pain and anger of the Armenians.

The Turkish government has long denied that the massacres amounted to
genocide -- they say the killings were a tragic consequence of war,
not a planned annihilation. Armenians, both in a vast international
diaspora as well as in Armenia itself, have long demanded an apology
and recognition from Turkey.

The Armenians in southeast Turkey, whom historians have called
"hidden Armenians" or "Islamized Armenians," want those things, too,
but for the most part they are less beholden to the painful past.

"If you compare our anger to the anger in the diaspora and in Armenia,
ours would be like 1 percent of their anger," said Aram Acikyan, who
works as a caretaker here in Diyarbakir at the Surp Giragos Church,
the largest Armenian church in Turkey and the Middle East. The church
was restored in recent years with the help of the local Kurdish
authorities, and now symbolizes efforts at reconciliation.

Those efforts have largely been possible because the Kurds were willing
to acknowledge their role, as agents for the Ottoman Turks, in the
genocide a century ago. That the Kurds themselves suffered under
the Turks, who have long denied the existence of a separate Kurdish
identity, made reconciliation between Kurds and Armenians easier.

"The freedom we have here to say, 'I am Armenian,' is all thanks to
the Kurdish movement," said Mr. Acikyan, 48, whose grandfather survived
the genocide and was taken in by a Kurdish shepherd and his wife.

Many of the hidden Armenians here who are rediscovering their roots
have found it easier to discard their Kurdish or Turkish identities,
and to embrace an Armenian one, than to relinquish their religion.

Most have remained Muslim rather than converting to Christianity,
the religion of their ancestors, and so the restored church here in
Diyarbakir feels more like a cultural center than a house of worship.

Easter at the Surp Giragos Church this year was a splendid affair, with
the sun shining brightly and plenty of colored eggs and traditional
braided breads. A priest flew in from Istanbul to celebrate Mass.

Yet when the service began, many of the few hundred people who had
gathered preferred to stay outside, under the sun in the courtyard,
chatting and smoking, or eating a breakfast of cheese and olives and
eggs at the cafe. And when holy communion was administered, roughly
a dozen people, maybe fewer, lined up.

"I love coming to the church," said Ozlem Dikici, who was sitting in
the courtyard. "But I am Muslim. I pray five times a day."

Ms. Dikici's husband, who recently took an Armenian name, Armenak
Mihsi, sat next to her and repeated the story he was told by his
grandfather: The family was wealthy and had connections with the
Ottoman elite, and so was warned about killings and deportations.

"Only five years ago did I really accept this," Mr. Mihsi said. "For 20
years, it was confusing. It's not just being Armenian, but there is the
Christian side of it, too. It's very difficult to change religions."

Many of the Armenians who converted to Islam became even more religious
than their fellow countrymen, as if to prove that they were good
Muslims and to overcome prejudice and suspicion.

Mr. Mihsi, for example, has made the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca,
in Saudi Arabia, 10 times.

Through the generations, even while living as Muslims, many were aware
of their Armenian heritage. "It was all anyone talked about in this
region," said Aziz Yaman, 58, but only within the family, in private.

Even today, he added, his family keeps to one old Armenian custom --
making wine, and drinking it.

"Everyone has their own story," he said.

Mr. Demirjian, a man of good cheer, smiled broadly when speaking
recently about coming to terms with his Armenian identity. Sitting
at a cafe here, he arrayed in front of him some of the relics of
his family's past. A government document listed his grandfather as a
Christian. He showed his father's passport, stamped by Saudi Arabia
from a long-ago pilgrimage to Mecca. There was also a magazine article
about a relative who became an antiques dealer in New York.

Each item represents a chapter of his family's story: a Christian
identity erased, conversion to Islam, flight and exile, and, more
recently a rediscovery.

Turkish officials say that there are most likely several hundred
thousand people in eastern Turkey with some Armenian blood, but that
few have traveled the path that Mr. Demirjian and others at the church
here have. One local official said there were only 200 to 300 Armenians
in Diyarbakir.

Many are still hiding their heritage, Mr. Demirjian said, because
they are frightened. The word Armenian is used as an insult in Turkey,
as a suggestion that someone is a traitor.

"There are many other stories like mine, in all the cities and towns
around here," he said. "In this region, when you pick up a stone,
under it is a story of an Armenian."

27.04.15, 11:52

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/world/europe/armenians-turkey.html?_r=0

http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2015/04/27/Hidden-Armenians-of-Turkey-Seek-to-Reclaim-Their-Erased-Identities/942052

Yervant1 · May 14, 2015

DERSIM-ARMENIANS BAPTIZED. PROCESS OF RETURNING TO ARMENIAN ROOTS CONTINUES

10:10, 13 May, 2015

YEREVAN, 13 MAY, ARMENPRESS. 17 Dersim-Armenians take the step of
returning to their Armenian identity, so that they were baptized in the
Armenian Church of Istanbul-YeÅ~_ilkÃ¶y and adopted the Christianity.

The Patriarchal Vicar of Constantinople His Grace Archbishop Aram
Ateshian presided over the baptismal ceremony.

The Founder and former President of the Union of Dersim-Armenians
Miran Prkich in a talk with "Armenpress" stated that along with the
marriage baptismal ceremony, two couples married at the church. He
said that the Dersim-Armenians passed courses of 6 month before
the baptism, which were prepared by the Armenian Patriarchate of
Constantinople. "As in the other matters, in this case also we will
be more progressive and introduce quickly our own nation to the
Dersim-Armenians," Prkich highlighted.

http://armenpress.am/eng/news/805201/dersim-armenians-baptized-process-of-returning-to-armenian-roots-continues.html

Yervant1 · June 2, 2015

HOW SOME ARMENIANS ARE RECLAIMING THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH IN TURKEY

June 1, 2015

Nezahat Eleftos ® chats with her daughter Leyla at her home in
Diyarbakir, in the Kurdish-dominated southeastern Turkey, April 20,
2015. For nearly four decades, Eleftos tried to guard her grandmother
Zarife's secret that she too had been born a Christian Armenian, not
a Muslim Kurd like all her neighbors. (photo by REUTERS/Sertac Kayar)

Al Monitor - The saga of Armenians who were compelled to live as
Muslims goes back to 1915 massacres. Armenian children were adopted by
Muslim families, women married Muslim men and some families converted
to Islam to save their lives.

These Armenians, who for a century were forced to conceal their
identities, are trying to return to their roots. This activity is more
prevalent among Anatolian Armenians, particularly those from Dersim.

It hasn't caught on among Istanbul Armenians.

Miran Pirgic Gultekin is one of them. Gultekin explained to Al-Monitor
how his family members saved themselves from the 1915 genocide by
adopting Alevi identities. But not long after, they were caught up
in the government's 1937 Dersim massacres to put down the uprising
of Dersim tribes. Some of his family members were killed; others were
exiled. Those who returned after 10 years came back with Muslim names.

Abraham had become Ibrahim. Since no records could be found, they
were issued IDs with the new names they chose .

As they lived in predominantly Alevi Dersim, they, too, were recognized
as Alevis. But the family tried to keep its Christian culture alive
inside the house.

"When I was going to elementary school, I knew I was an Armenian but
I didn't know what it meant, that we have our distinct culture and
religion," Gultekin said. "At Easter time, my mother used to give us
painted eggs but wouldn't tell us this was a Christian ritual. All of
us had Muslim names. My family used to listen to Radio Yerevan. But
some in the village heard about all this and complained. I began to
think of myself as Armenian when I was 18 years old. I had Armenian
friends but nothing to read about my people. I didn't know about 1915.

The murder of journalist Hrant Dink affected me and when I was 48, I
decided to return to my to my origins. I couldn't do it before. There
was pressure and fear. With my 70-year old father-in-law, my son and
another relative we went to be baptized. Then I changed my name from
Selahattin to Miran Pirgic."

There have been many Anatolian Armenians who have resumed their
authentic identities in group baptisms. The last such baptism occurred
May 9 at Surp Istenapos Church of Yesilkoy-Istanbul. A dozen Armenians
from Dersim were first given religious guidance and then baptized.

Miran Manukyan, a reporter for the Armenian newspaper Agos, covered
the event and told Al-Monitor that this was a ceremony different
than the usual rites. Generally, of course, children are baptized,
but this time the baptisms were for adults who had not practiced
their religion until adulthood.

"I asked them one by one and they all gave the same answer: We are
now free," Manukyan said.

One of the participants was 30-year-old Yonca Gultekin of Dersim,
who took the name of Lia. "Because my father was a civil servant,
my parents concealed their Christian religion," she told Al-Monitor.

"When they declared they were from Dersim, they were automatically
accepted to be Alevis. We went to church without letting neighbors
and friends notice. My father was usually teaching in villages. We
tried to hide my father's Christianity, especially from his civil
servant colleagues. We ended that secrecy once we came to Istanbul,
where we went to church comfortably. After I finished university,
I gathered my cousins to discuss the idea of baptism."

They then went to the church and discussed it with a senior cleric.

"We attended six-month religious course and then were baptized,"
she said. "I will now change my identity and write Christian in
the column for religion. My 63-year-old mother will also alter her
identity and inscribe Christian on her ID card."

Islamized Armenians was a taboo subject in Turkey until recently.

People simply didn't want to talk about it. But symposiums organized
by the Hrant Dink Foundation (established in memory of the slain
Armenian journalist) and other civil society organizations and frequent
references to the matter by intellectuals were instrumental in easing
the taboo.

The children of the Islamized Armenians also played a major role in
overcoming the taboo.

Ayse Nevin Yildiz Tahincioglu, an instructor at Hacettepe University,
spoke in a lecture about how a man branded his Armenian wife with
a hot iron, marking her cross signs to ensure that she will remain
a Muslim. Tahincioglu surprised the audience, saying: "These people
who inflicted that brutality on a woman were [in] my family."

Another notable is journalist Ahmet Abakay. In his book "Last Words
of Hoshana," he writes about his mother, who, until she was 82,
had not revealed that she was an Armenian. His mother called him a
day before her death and revealed that she was an Armenian. Abakay's
relatives were furious at him for giving away their secret after the
book was published.

What's apparent is that the Anatolian Armenians are getting organized,
and many more are likely to emerge to recover their authentic
identities.

Leading the effort is the Association of Dersim Armenians, which
Gultekin set up.

Armenians of Malatya, Mus, Batman (Sason), Sivas and Hatay have
also formed associations. Adiyaman and Diyarbakir will follow and
help Anatolian Armenians known as Alevis, Kurds, Arabs and Muslim
until now to assume their old identities. These associations are not
only concerned with baptisms. Through their contacts with Armenia
and Armenian NGOs in other provinces of Turkey, they are aiming to
integrate Armenian youths and teach them their culture.

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/06/turkey-armenians-disguised-muslims-recover-true-identity.html
http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/68163

Yervant1 · July 3, 2015

DEATHBED RAMBLINGS OF ISLAMIZED ARMENIAN ORPHAN TO GRANDDAUGHTER: 'WE RAN FROM THE KURDS AND SOLDIERS'

Anna Muradyan

14:35, July 3, 2015

In a weird twist of fate, it was the onset of Alzheimer's that got
Mrs. Ogyut, well past ninety, to recount fragments of her Armenian
childhood; something she never mentioned to her family.

Slipping in and out of consciousness, Mrs. Ogyut repeatedly recounted
one particular image from her lost childhood.

"They were in a tunnel and fleeing from the Kurds and soldiers who
were firing at them. They were killing the parents," Evrim Hikmet,
the granddaughter of Mrs. Ogyut tells Hetq. "The she cries and the
soldiers, hearing her cries, come and take her."

This is the story that Mrs. Ogyut recounted before she died. She
would also wake up and say that she saw her mother's silhouette on
the window.

Mrs. Ogyut was raised by a wealthy Turkish family in Nishan Tash,
the most fashionable neighborhoods of Istanbul.

She never went to school or learnt to read and write. She was
married off to a lowly servant who, according to the granddaughter,
was also illiterate.

Evrim says that her family reckoned grandma was adopted by this family
but thought that they just didn't treat the orphan correctly. Mrs.

Ogyut had three children; one was Evrim's mother.

The issue of my grandma's illiteracy and that she was married to
someone outside the family circle always raised questions for us,"
says Evrim. "I know that my grandmother didn't wish to marry my
grandfather because she never met him before the marriage."

The names of Mrs. Ogyut's parents - Fatimah and Abdullah - in her
passport, also is proof that she was an orphan. Evrim says it's a
known fact that these were the names used during the early years of
the Turkish Republic and Ottoman Empire, when the names of a child's
parents weren't known.

"You can even see this is the case by watching today's Turkish TV
soap operas," Evrim says.

Mrs. Ogyut was one of Armenian orphans of the Genocide who were taken
and given to the care of Turkish families. Another bit of evidence
to back this up is the fact that her mother was born in Erzeroum.

However, Mrs. Ogyut's passport states that she was born in Manisa,
a large town near Izmir. Evrim confesses that the family lacks any
credible information regarding where Mrs. Ogyut was born.

Evrim says that the ramblings of her grandmother were taken as credible
because when she recounted the episode of fleeing the soldiers in the
tunnel, the old woman said they fired at her feet. It turns out that
the woman had a deep scar on one of her heels. She also harbored a
hatred for the Kurds all her life.

"When I was a child and asked her about the wound, she would say
that someone fired a gun at her foot whole playing a game. She never
remembered the details," says Evrim.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Ogyut also talked about the gold and silver
items she once owned but which were seized by her aunt's family.

An interesting aspect of her life is that Mrs. Ogyut traveled to
Japan with a cousin of her adopted family who was an opera singer. She
spent five years in Japan and learnt the language.

Evrim says that they have no dealings with the family that adopted her
grandmother. She adds, however, that her mother told her that when
she was twenty or so the opera singer once visited them and that an
argument broke out between her grandma and the singer.

"After the singer left they never saw each other again. My mom couldn't
understand anything because they were taking Japanese," says Evrim.

Evrim says that her mother wanted to find out more about that wealthy
family but was unable to. The family broke all ties with their adopted
girl after she got married. Evrim says they know that the family still
lives in Istanbul and owns a number of businesses, including hospitals.

Thus ends Evrim's story about her Armenian roots - a story that has
gotten her family to think about their own identity.

"When I told my brother the story he joked saying last year I was
a Turk and this year, an Armenian," Evrim says. "However we never
thought she wasn't a Turk until she fell ill."

Estimates say 63,000 Armenian orphans shared the fate of Mrs. Ogyut.

This is the conclusion of Turkologist Ruben Melkonyan who cites
this number in a 1921 report prepared by the Armenian Patriarchate
of Constantinople. It corresponds to the number that appears in an
August 30, 1921 report presented to the League of Nations, according
to which 90,819 Armenian children and woman were freed from Muslim
households but that an equal number remains in Muslim families.

Evrim says that she isn't looking for information about her
grandmother's past and that it isn't important whether she has
Armenian, Turkish or other roots. What is important is to know about
diversity because being different, in a country like Turkey, is par
for the course.

"All of us have built this country together. And it's normal to have
different roots in a country like this. What's bad is that we have
been forced to neglect that diversity an only know about the Turkish
side," says Evrim.

She says that her family has lived as a Turkish family, which in
Turkey is an advantage. She adds that while not being nationalistic,
her family has, in essence, benefited from this advantage.

"But that advantage has derived from tragic events and we have
enjoyed that advantage without knowing that it's built on the sorrow
of others," she says.

Evrim is a musicologist and teaches music at Istanbul's Mimar Sinan
University. Currently, she's researching the music of Iraqi migrants.

She grew up in the Istanbul neighborhood of BeÅ~_iktaÅ~_, where
calling anyone Armenian was considered a slur, an outcast.

"I now believe it was all a lie. It not only refers to my family but
to any others, and we are all living in that denial," Evrim says. "I
believe that we must first be open about this and discuss it publicly
in order to know our roots and past."

http://hetq.am/eng/news/61311/deathbed-ramblings-of-islamized-armenian-orphan-to-granddaughter-we-ran-from-the-kurds-and-soldiers.html

Yervant1 · July 16, 2015

TURKEY'S MUSLIM ARMENIANS COME OUT OF HIDING

TUNCELI, TURKEY - They dropped their language and religion to survive
after the 1915 genocide, but close to 100 years later, Turkey's
"hidden Armenians" want to take pride in their identity.

Some genocide survivors adopted Islam and blended in with the Kurds
in eastern Turkey's Dersim Mountains to avoid further persecution.

Several generations down the road, the town of Tunceli hosted a
landmark ceremony Wednesday for Genocide Remembrance Day, something
that has only ever happened in Istanbul and the large city of
Diyarbakir.

The massacre and deportation of Ottoman Armenians during World War I,
which Armenians claim left around 1.5 million dead, is described by
many countries as genocide, though the Turkish government continues
to reject the term.

Speaking in front of the ruins of Ergen church -- one of the few
remnants of Christian Armenian heritage in the region -- Miran Pirginc
Gultekin, president of the Dersim Armenian Association, explained it
is still rare to declare oneself openly as Armenian in Turkey.

"We decided that we had to get back to our true nature, that this
way of living was not satisfactory, that it was not fair to live with
another's identity and another's faith," he said.

Despite converting to Alevism, a heterodox sect of Islam, and taking
Turkish names, the ethnic Armenians who stayed on their ancestral land
suffered from continued discrimination and the elders often struggle
to summon their memories.

"My mother told me how her family was deported. She was a baby at the
time and her mother considered drowning her in despair," said Tahire
Aslanpencesi, an octogenarian from the village of Danaburan. "My
mother used to say all the misery that came after would have been
avoided had her mother drowned her.".

After converting to Islam, many of the "crypto-Armenians" said they
still face unfair treatment: Their land has been confiscated, the
men humiliated with "circumcision checks" in the army and some have
been tortured.

Hidir Boztas' grandfather converted to Islam, gave his son a Turkish
name and the clan intermarried with a Kurdish community in Alanyazi.

"We feel Armenian nonetheless and in any case the others always remind
us of where we come from. No matter how many of their daughters we
marry, and how many of ours we give them, they will continue to call
us Armenians," he said.

The Armenian community shared the Kurds' suffering when the regime
cracked down on Kurdish rebellions, from the 1938 revolt to the
insurrection started by the PKK group in 1984.

For a long time, only those who had left the ancestral homestead
dared to make their Armenian roots known.

Human rights campaigners gathered Wednesday in downtown Istanbul
carrying portraits of genocide victims.

They were only a handful, but they argued that the simple fact
that such an event was authorized and groups such as theirs invited
proved that attitudes were changing. "Ten years ago, such an event
was impossible in Turkey," said Benjamin Abtan," a European activist.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/04/26/world/turkeys-muslim-armenians-come-out-of-hiding/#.VaaRgflViko

http://www.accc.org.uk/turkeys-muslim-armenians-come-out-of-hiding/

Yervant1 · August 9, 2015

Turkish author: majority of people in Anatolia have Armenian grandmothers

August 8, 2015 - 14:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Correspondent at Turkish-based Armenian newspaper
Agos, Vercihan ZiflioÄ?lu authored a book about Turkey's hidden
Armenians, titled `Story of Armenians of Purgatory,' Ermenihaber.am
reports, citing demokrathaber.net

The author analyzes the struggle of Armenians who were forced to
conceal their identity and live in a Muslim society for already 100
years.

ZiflioÄ?lu presents the chronology of the most important developments
for Crypto-Armenians, including Hrant Dink's murder on January 19,
2007, the publishing of Fethiye Çetin's book `My grandmother,'
announcements in Agos newspaper by people who were looking for their
families, the restoration and reopening of the Armenian churches of
Van, Kayseri, Diyarbakir and other events.

ZiflioÄ?lu also reminds about the Armenian women, who were abducted at
the beginning of the last century. Emphasizing the fact that mainly
Kurds live in areas previously inhabited by Armenians, the author
writes: `Four out of five people we met in Anatolia had Armenian
grandmothers.'

http://www.ermenihaber.am/am/news/2015/08/07/%D4%B6%D5%AB%D6%86%D5%AC%D5%AB%D6%85%D5%B2%D5%AC%D5%B8%D6%82-%C2%AB%D4%B1%D6%80%D6%87%D5%A5%D5%AC%D5%B5%D5%A1%D5%B6-%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%B8%D5%AC%D5%AB%D5%A1%D6%81%D5%AB%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AB%D6%81-%D5%B0%D5%AB%D5%B6%D5%A3%D5%AB%D6%81-%D5%B9%D5%B8%D6%80%D5%BD%D5%A8-%D5%B0%D5%A1%D5%B5-%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%AB%D5%AF-%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6%D5%AB%C2%BB/63380

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/195775/

Yervant1 · August 12, 2015

PROJECT REBIRTH: HOMECOMING OF 'HIDDEN ARMENIANS'

By Raffi Bedrosyan on August 11, 2015 in Featured, Headline, News //

Some came by chartered bus from Diyarbakir, Sasun, and Urfa, others
by public transport from Dersim through Tbilisi. A few came by rail
from Artvin in the Hamshen region via Batumi, others drove their own
cars from Hopa. The destination for all? Yerevan, Armenia.

Following the success of the historic first trip of 50 "hidden"
Islamicized Armenians from Diyarbakir, Turkey, to Armenia last August
to re-discover their roots, culture, and language, the project was
repeated again this year in an expanded fashion

The trip, now formally named Project REBIRTH: VERADZNOUNT, was part
of a wide range of activities supporting Islamicized Armenians. This
year, 80 selected Islamicized Armenians were brought from Turkey to
the homeland, to participate in the Ari-Tun event organized by the
Ministry of Diaspora.

After several months of planning, fundraising, organizing, and
negotiating with government officials and hotels in Armenia, the trip
was set for the first week of August.

The participants were met in Yerevan by the organizer of the tour,
who flew in from Toronto, Canada. The timing of the trip was made to
coincide with the Pan-Armenian Games, which brought more than 6,200
Armenian athletes from all over the world to Armenia, including 450
from Turkey, representing the historic Armenian homeland teams from
Van, Bitlis, Mush, Dersim, Diyarbakir, and Musa Ler.

This year, more emphasis was placed on having the younger generation
participate in the trip; as a result, several children of those who
came last year were now part of the group. The age of the participants
ranged from 11 to 87. The Islamicized Armenians come from all
walks of life; they are teachers, lawyers, artists, writers, poets,
high school and university students, business people, housewives,
and retired pensioners. They may have different perspectives about
almost every subject, but they all share one common goal: to search
for and find their Armenian roots. Their life stories and quest for
their roots are as different as themselves.

They are all descendants of the "living victims" of the 1915 Armenian
Genocide--orphaned Armenian boys and girls who were captured,
protected, hidden, or bought by Turks and Kurds, and who became
Islamicized, Turkified and Kurdified.

As the grandchildren of these assimilated orphans, they became aware
of their Armenian roots during different stages of their lives. Some
found out about their Armenian origins at an early age, while others
discovered it in their adulthood, on their parents' or grandparents'
deathbed.

During this trip, they eagerly participated in Armenian-language
classes every morning, followed by expeditions to significant historic
sites during the day, and cultural events in the evenings.

Interestingly, the participants from the Hamshen region already spoke
a dialect of Armenian, and could easily understand or be understood
by Armenians in the street.

The full-house concert and the activities of the group were followed
widely by the Armenian media and TV.

One of the Armenian cultural events the entire group attended was
a concert I gave, performing the works of Komitas, Khatchaturian,
Alan Hovhaness, and Edgar Hovanissian. The full-house concert and the
activities of the group were followed widely by the Armenian media
and TV.

As a result of this trip, the participants will no longer be hidden
Armenians when they return to Turkey, as their real identities have
been revealed at considerable risk to themselves and their families.

They may be discriminated against by their employers, lose their jobs
if working in the public sector, lose their Muslim friends, neighbors,
and even the rest of their families who prefer to remain Muslim Turks
or Kurds. But they are all willing to take the risk.

Throughout the trip, the expectations, short- and long-term goals of
Project Rebirth and the needs of the hidden Armenians were discussed.

As courageous people willing to take the risk of revealing
their Armenian identities, they need support mechanisms related to
Armenian-language instruction, increased interaction and exchanges with
cultural groups to and from Armenia, and technical and professional
help related to restoration projects for abandoned or destroyed
Armenian churches, cemeteries, and other monuments in their cities
and villages.

More importantly, on a personal level, they may need financial, legal,
and social services help for family and employment problems triggered
from revealing their Armenian identities.

The Project Rebirth organizers hope to engender a willingness in these
new Armenians to learn the Armenian language and history, organize
among themselves the planning and implementation of the restoration of
Armenian churches and buildings, arrange regular social and cultural
activities to encourage others to "come out," and more critically,
pass along their desire to return to their Armenian roots to their
children and the next generation.

Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan (L), Raffi Bedrosyan ®

The goals and objectives of Project Rebirth are now well defined, and
a few of the short-term goals have already been achieved. One example
was the agreement negotiated between the organizer and the Ministry of
Diaspora last year to have two university students from Diyarbakir,
who had participated in last years' trip, continue their studies
in Armenia with free tuition. After a year of intensive Armenian
language instruction in Yerevan University, we watched with great
pride and satisfaction as one of these students acted as a guide and
translator to the participants of this year's trip.

The ultimate goal of Project Rebirth is nothing short of creating
an Armenian presence again on historic Armenian lands within Turkey,
in terms of people, culture, and architecture.

Although there is support and appreciation by certain influential
leaders in Armenia, the significance and potential of Project
Rebirth is not yet fully understood by some diasporan leaders and
organizations. It is our hope that with increased understanding
of the new realities related to the hidden Armenians in Turkey,
Armenians within the diaspora and Armenia will be able to undo some
of the damages of the past through Project Rebirth.

The trip was organized and sponsored by Raffi Bedrosyan, with
additional contributions from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation,
AGBU Asbeds, and a few individuals.

http://armenianweekly.com/2015/08/11/project-rebirth/

Yervant1 · August 15, 2015

HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE WAS ARMENIAN...

August 14, 2015

I had heard a lot about Armenians who became Islamized as a result
of the Genocide, but I had never met any of them. Little did I know
that I would meet one of them someday and in Armenia.

I met Ibrahim during the 6th Pan-Armenian Games. A mutual acquaintance
of ours told me that he was of Armenian descent, and I decided to meet
him. Ibrahim was moved when he found out that I wanted to talk to him,
especially when he found out that I was from Artsakh.

Ibrahim lives in Mush. He is married with three children. As he told
me, he found out that he was Armenian a couple of years ago. "We have
always lived as Kurds. My parents never told me that we were Armenian.

Perhaps they were afraid, or they kept silent for another reason.

But the elder Kurds of Mush know very well the origin and history of
each person in Mush. By chance I found out from them that my parents
are Armenian, and when I asked my parents, they didn't deny it,"
Ibrahim said, adding that he has also found out that his ancestors
left Sasun for Mush. To survive the Genocide, they converted to Islam
and lived as Kurds.

Ibrahim speaks Kurdish and only knows some words in Armenian that he
has learned on his own. He had a translator, who was from Istanbul
and knew Armenian very well.

"My grandfather's name was Sako Sargsyan. I was shocked when I found
out about my origin. I couldn't believe it. I decided to search for
Armenians and learn Armenian," said Ibrahim.

Ibrahim was told that there was a Taron-Mush Armenian Union in Mush and
he joined the Union, which is called for bringing the local Armenians
together, helping them preserve their identity and providing those
lacking knowledge of Armenian and Armenian history with the opportunity
to learn the history and language. Ibrahim learned Armenian for the
first time and now knows a couple of words and sentences in Armenian.

The Taron-Mush Union participated in the Pan-Armenian Games with a
football team, and Ibrahim was a member of the team. "True, the team
didn't win, but I'm happy that I visited Armenia for the first time
ever. I visited the temple in Garni and Geghard Monastery, which left
a great impression on me. It's hard for me to hide my feelings. That's
our history, and it's also my history and the history of people like
me. I didn't know about it, and I just discovered it for myself..."

Ibrahim says there are many Islamized and crypto Armenians in Mush
and that he knows most of them. Most of them have discovered their
Armenian identity just recently because their forefathers hadn't
told them about it. "It's very hard to preserve the Armenian identity
among the Kurds," said Ibrahim.

Ibrahim has two paternal uncles, and his elder uncle is 125 years old.

"When I found out that I was Armenian, I asked my uncle, and he told
me that he had witnessed the Genocide and remembered how the Turks
would kill, rob and destroy everything," said Ibrahim and added:
"Perhaps such Armenians were saved by a miracle, but you can't blame
them. They were forced to live as crypto Armenians."

Ibrahim didn't talk a lot. It appeared that he was nervous because
he wasn't able to communicate in Armenian. He said nothing will ever
separate him from Armenia and that next time he would come with his
wife and children.

Hermine Avagyan

aparaj.am

http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/71582

Yervant1 · August 15, 2015

TO BAPTIZE OR NOT TO BAPTIZE THE HIDDEN ARMENIANS

about 1 hour ago 14/08/15

Diyarbakir Armenians baptized at Etchmiadzin in August 2014 (Photo
by Gulisor Akkum/The Armenian Weekly)

BY RAFFI BEDROSYAN

FROM THE ARMENIAN WEEKLY

Along with the many high points experienced during the historic
Armenia trip of the 80 hidden Armenians from Turkey, there were also
a few low points. The highs included warm welcomes by both Armenian
government officials and common people on the street, emotional
triumphs at Sardarabad, feelings of grief at the Genocide Museum,
new-found friendships, accomplishments like spelling the alphabet
during Armenian language classes, or simply being able to order food
in Armenian at a restaurant. However, I want to point out a few of
the lows our hidden Armenians encountered--all related to baptism.

Among the members of our group, two girls from Dersim and a young man
from Diyarbakir wished to be baptized. Unfortunately, at the end of
the day, their wish did not come true.

In recent days, Armenian media--both in the Diaspora and in
Armenia--ran headline news and opinion pieces on this topic. Various
individuals gave press conferences; people opined on TV; statements
were released by the church, government, Diaspora organizations,
and political parties; while heated debates on social media argued
both for and against the decision to refuse the baptisms.

As the organizer of the group whose three members wished to be
baptized, and as the designated godfather or "gnkahayr" for these
baptisms, I would like to provide a first-hand account of what really
happened, why it happened, and what we should do to avoid such scandals
in the future.

One may recall that during the trip I organized last year for the
50 hidden Armenians from Diyarbakir to Armenia, we witnessed the
baptisms of a man and a woman in Etchmiadzin. The man was a teacher
in a public school in Diyarbakir. This year, he brought his son to
Armenia to extend the process of returning to Armenian roots to the
next generation. The woman baptized last year, on the other hand,
had an even more ominous challenge. Her husband, a devout Moslem
Kurd, had forbidden her from taking such a step. She nevertheless
decided to convert to Christianity to keep her promise to her hidden
Armenian father, who had asked her to become a Christian Armenian at
his deathbed. I am also pleased to report that she and her husband
are still happily married, and are now bravely facing the challenge
of how to raise their child together--whether as an Armenian, a Kurd,
a Christian, or a Moslem.

Therefore, this year when three members of our group approached me
with their wish to be baptized, I thought--perhaps naively--that
again I can go ahead and arrange the baptisms for the day we visit
Etchmiadzin. The two Dersimtsi girls would take the names Anahit
and Nairi, and the Dikranagerdtsi man from Diyarbakir would become
Madteos Paramaz. One of the Dersim girls had a brother who was already
baptized last year. The Dikranagerdsi man was a distant relative of
the family involved in the reconstruction of the Surp Giragos Church
in Diyarbakir.

Participants of this year's trip at Dzidzernagapert

Unfortunately, the baptisms could neither happen in Echmiadzin, nor
in the Khor Virab Church the next day, nor in Surp Hovhannes Church in
Yerevan the following day. The explanations given to us were as varied
as the clerics involved. Some said we had to apply in writing months
in advance; then, the applications would be reviewed by a religious
council before permission could be considered. Others said we needed
to bring a letter from the Istanbul Acting Patriarch Archbisop Aram
Atesyan granting permission for the baptisms. One cleric suggested
the candidates must visit Armenia at least three times before being
eligible. An even more preposterous suggestion came from a cleric who
wondered why we don't go to churches in Turkey since those wishing to
be baptized are all from Turkey, instead of causing headaches for him
and his superiors. I didn't bother telling him that although there
are churches in Istanbul, no churches are left in historic Armenia
except the one we reconstructed in Diyarbakir. Overall, these clerics
seemed to be unprepared as to how to deal with the baptism requests
and had to make endless calls to their superiors for a decision,
which either did not come or was ultimately negative. In any case,
they would still lead us on, that by tomorrow, there may be a positive
decision. So, each day--with our hopes high, after buying the required
towels, crosses, and headscarves for the girls--we would face renewed
disappointment. Even the intervention of the Minister of Diaspora
Hranush Hakobyan did not achieve the desired outcome.

An even more upsetting development was the zeal of critics to use this
incident to start misguided attacks. Rather than criticize the decision
itself or the persons who made the decision, we have individuals
appearing at press conferences and on TV, or writing articles in
newspapers, attacking the Armenian Church, the Ministry of Diaspora,
and the government in general. One organization called Republic of
Western Armenia even went as far as issuing fictitious citizenship
and identification cards with the baptized names printed on them,
displaying the cards with a fictitious flag, name, and photo at press
conferences and on TV. It seems these people forget or don't care that
the two Dersim girls and the Diyarbakir man will return to Turkey,
will continue living among Moslem Turks and Kurds, with their names
paraded on a fictitious republic's fake citizenship cards. Do they
have the right to jeopardize the lives of these already endangered
persons? Or for that matter, do any of these opinion makers, who pass
along all sorts of judgment in the media, care about the emotions
of these three young people who had made such a personal decision as
changing their faith, their religion?

The hidden Armenians have no control over their ethnic roots,
their genetic identity--they were given no choice. They were born
as Armenians, even though the fact that they are Armenians was not
revealed to them until later in life. Some of them have now made a
conscious decision to return to their ethnic roots. But changing
religion by converting to Christianity is an entirely different
matter. No one is born with a religion--Christian or Moslem. Religion
is not a genetic identity but a faith acquired by personal choice and
through family. If someone has made the decision to become Christian
through baptism, there should be no individual, no institution, or
no force to prevent that from happening--especially in the case of
hidden Armenians, who are taking a risk by revealing their Armenian
identity, and by converting to Christianity. If the reason for these
increasingly difficult barriers that prevent baptisms is misgivings
of abuse, there should be other ways of dealing with them quickly and
without delay. Sure, there could be some Moslem Turks or Kurds just
pretending to be hidden Armenians. There could be others who have no
intention of becoming Christian Armenian and who are getting baptized
to gain some sort of advantage, such as employment or a way out of
Turkey and into Europe or the Americas. However, these exceptions
should not lead to draconian rules and regulations for all others
who genuinely want to become Christian. Moreover, why do we have
godfathers? The role of the godfather is to assure the Church that
the person being baptized is eligible and worthy of baptism, and there
should be no excuse or delay by the cleric for further investigation.

The objective of Project Rebirth is to help the hidden Armenians think,
feel, and act as Armenians. Our work will continue regardless of the
barriers placed by certain people. Whether these hidden Armenians
become Christian or not, they have decided to return to their Armenian
roots, and we will continue encouraging them. It would be ideal if the
Church also fulfils its duty in encouraging them to become Christian
Armenians, but if not, it is still alright. After all, Armenians were
Armenians for centuries before they adopted Christianity.

http://asbarez.com/138764/to-baptize-or-not-to-baptize-the-hidden-armenians/

Yervant1 · August 21, 2015

MOSLEM ARMENIANS

Souren Seraydarian, Chairman, National Congress of Western Armenians
Paris, 19 August 2015

During the last two years representatives of the National Congress of
Western Armenians (NCWA) raised this issue with senior clerics of the
Armenian Apostolic church in Armenia, Turkey, USA, the United Kingdom,
France and Germany and never received a clear answer. For example,
whereas the bishop in Germany accepts to consider every bona fide
request for baptism favorably, Bishop Atachian in Istanbul creates
many obstacles and tries to accommodate the authorities in Turkey and
avoid "trouble". What is missing is a clear and unequivocal policy
and decision by the highest church authorities, i.e. the Catholicos.

Recently clerics refused to baptize three Moslem Armenians during
their pilgrimage to Armenia. It is worth reminding the public that not
all Armenians belong to the same church.. Indeed some are Catholic,
evangelist, Mormon, atheist, etc. This does not prevent them from being
recognized as Armenians of different beliefs. It is discriminatory not
to recognize Moslem Armenians if they feel they belong to this nation.

It is high time to distinguish between ethnicity and religion and get
rid of medieval thinking and to adopt a conciliatory approach towards
all those who identify themselves as belonging to the Armenian Nation.

On the other hand there are tens of thousands of baptized Armenians
who do no longer wish to be identified as Armenians and are satisfied
with their status as fully integrated persons in foreign societies
and countries. Enough is enough. It is time to get our act together
since at this delicate political juncture we do need the support and
cohesion of all Armenians.

http://www.keghart.com/Seraydarian-Moslem-Armenians

Yervant1 · August 24, 2015

THE CURRENT ISSUE OF THE ISLAMIZED ARMENIANS

Lragir.am
Society - 22 August 2015, 11:40

Related

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There are eight million or more Islamized Armenians who currently live
in Western Armenian lands and in other parts of present day Turkey.

That's ten percent of Turkey's current population. We see a trend
of more and more "Islamized or "Hidden" Armenians" come forward
from Turkey and announce about their Armenian identities. They are
reaching out to the rest of the Armenians around the world and to their
Armenian brothers and sisters who live in the Republic of Armenia,
in hopes of being welcomed by the Christian Armenians.

For one hundred years or so, these good people have kept their Armenian
identities a secret in fear of being harassed, abused, or even killed
by Turks and by Turkish authorities. After all these years they have
not forgotten about their roots. They were speaking our language
secretly inside their homes, so Turks and others would not know they
are Armenian because due to the harsh consequences they would possibly
face. They want to reach out and connect with their Armenian roots.

Armenians in Armenia and in Diaspora are in full support of our
Islamized Armenian brothers and sisters to reunite with the Armenians
in Diaspora and in the Republic of Armenia. We see all Armenians
as the same, and we declare that the diversity in religion among
the millions of Armenians is not a weakness. It's our strength and
we should definitely maximize that strength to benefit Armenia and
Armenians worldwide. We are the same family, called Armenian nation,
with different religions.

Unfortunately some church leaders from our Armenian Apostolic
Church in Istanbul, Turkey, and in Armenia, have created obstacles
for the Islamized Armenians; thus, creating a perception of denial
and rejection by the Christian Armenians of our Islamized Armenian
brothers and sisters, which does not correspond to the real views of
the Christian Armenians. Islamized Armenians don't need to convert
back to Christianity be accepted as Armenians; however, such requests
by Islamized Armenians to convert to Christianity should always be
welcomed. Hence we, as Christian Armenians, demand from the priests
serving in any and all Armenian Apostolic Church not to discourage
our Islamized counterparts and to welcome them as God welcomes His
people because the Priests are God's servants on Earth, and it's
their duty to do God's will.

The Armenian Apostolic Church leaders of Edchmiatzin, Armenia, say,
"These people (referring to Islamized Armenians) need to prove they
are Armenians by going back to Istanbul turkey and providing written
proof from the Armenian Patriarch in Istanbul that they are in
fact Armenians. The Islamized Armenians are the living proof of the
Armenian Genocide. Who had birth certificate or who was able to save
their personal documents during the Genocide? Armenians were lucky
to stay alive in those days, yet to safeguard their personal documents.

The Church leaders need to be more compassionate towards our Islamized
Armenians.

Here is where the nonsense is. Since when did the Armenian Apostolic
Church leaders have the authority to decide who is Armenian and who
is not Armenian? Who made them a judge? How could they deny faith to
people who ask for it? Why couldn't the Church leaders verify the
Islamized Armenians background before allowing them to participate
in the All Armenian Games? Why couldn't the Church leaders conduct a
simple DNA test if it was so important? Why were the Jews accepted to
convert during the 1800s? Why are non-Armenians, who marry Armenians,
allowed to convert, but the Islamized Armenians are forced to prove
their Armenian identities?

If this concept that the church mandates is true, then does that mean
Hayk Nahapet was not Armenian since he was not Christian even though
Christianity didn't even exist in Hayks time? Garegin Njdeh was not
Christians, but who can deny that he was an Armenian?

Armenians have a much older history than the Christianity. We have been
Armenians for thousands of years before Christianity and Islam were
considered as religions. So, the Church leaders are basically saying,
"If you are not a Christian you cannot be Armenian." Since when did
the Church leaders get their education and credentials as experts in
DNA research to determine who is Armenian and who is not?

The Church leaders have no right to decide who is Armenian and
who is not. We will not allow the Church leaders to decide who is
Armenian or not. We will encourage our Islamized Armenian brothers
and sisters to reunite with all Armenians regardless of religion,
in the Diaspora and in Armenia. Anyone who criticizes, insults,
denies our Islamized Armenians, their national identity, will be
confronted in a appropriate manner.

Gregor Menejyan

Geopolitical Club - Los Angeles

- See more at:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/society/view/34557#sthash.d2eOVHvL.dpuf

Yervant1 · September 10, 2015

FOUR YEARS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF KURDISTAN, 1915-1919

Posted By: September 09, 2015in:

Book Review:

Aram Haigaz (Aram Chekenian), Four Years in the Mountains of Kurdistan,
1915-1919, translated and edited by Iris Haigaz-Chekenian (New York:
Maiden Lane Press, 2014)

Reviewed by: Dr. Garabet K Moumdjian, Historian

Those of us who were born to displaced Armenian parents in the
diasporic communities of Lebanon, Syria, and other Middle Eastern
locals in the late 1950s and early 1960s are familiar with Aram
Haigaz's short stories depicting American-Armenian immigrant life
in the United States of America. We read these short stories--always
written in Armenian--when we were in primary school. Haygaz's simple
language captivated us. Then, when we were about 15 years of age,
we read his monumental work about the history, self defense, and
eventual demise of his hometown, Shabin Karahisar, in 1915. We also
read the lengthy--almost 600 page long--saga of his adventures in
"Kurdistan." We learned how he was able to escape death by converting
to Islam in order to save his life...

Aram Haigaz

Now, his daughter, Iris offers us the English translation in an
abridged version. It is indeed a labor of love. The Armenian original
was published in 1972. It took Aram and Iris more than 40 years in
order to bring the project to fruition. I am glad they both did it!

The book encapsulates the essence of the Armenian original. However,
special care has been given to create a crisp and idiomatic English
translation that would captivate Armenian and non Armenian readers
as well.

The autobiographical tome gives us many insights about several
important issues regarding the historical paradigm of the Armenian
Genocide; these include the issues pertaining to conversion to Islam
of boys but especially girls. The latter were hurriedly married to
Turkish and Kurdish husbands and represent the origins of what today
is known as the Islamized Armenians of Turkey.

Moreover, Haigaz, the ever optimist, shows us how there is life after
the great catastrophe that befell his people. Although when reading the
manuscript one becomes privy to the abhorrent evil that was unleashed
upon the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire in 1915, but,
at the same time, Haigaz, tries to minimize the "deluge" by bringing
forth characters such as "Good Samaritan" Turks and Kurds who helped
orphaned Armenian boys and girls and gave them a safe haven in the
mountains of Kurdistan throughout the general war. It was, after all,
through the actions of such people--who were acting against the will
of their government and, thus, putting their own lives and the lives
of their family members at risk, that many Armenian orphans were able
to escape certain death only to later become able to resume life and
the continuity of their people after the war.

Going deeper into the issue of Islamized Armenians in Aram Haygaz's
narrative, if we are to juxtapose Aram's story on the issue of
Islamized Armenians some interesting information can be deduced:
it is clear that males 15 and over who had converted for the sake of
preserving their lives had a better chance to go back to their own
people. Haygaz himself was able to accomplish such a feat. It seems
that many were able to do exactly that. On the other hand, however,
the situation was not the same for younger males who, because of
their age group, were somehow incorporated into the new ethnicity
and religion. Although seeming forever lost, it is this core that
most probably had and their successors today demonstrate an important
role in the shaping of what today in Turkey is known as the Islamized
Armenian community.

It must be underlined, however, that the situation was more stringent
for Armenian women both young and old. Aram's account is full of
such instances where the females were forever lost to their original
ethnicity. These women too had an important role. It is no wonder
that many Turks and Kurds are discovering today that they are the
offspring of such Armenian women...

Four Years in the Mountains of Kurdistan is a saga that appeals to
young and old. If you have a child or a grandchild of 15 and over,
please gift them a volume and let them explore this extra ordinary
story. You would indeed do a great favor to the development of a
young mind...

http://www.ragmamoul.net/news-in-english/four-years-in-the-mountains-of-kurdistan-1915-1919/

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