Written by Nicole Jansezian, the following, edited article first appeared in AllArabNews:
Armenia recently marked its 31st Independence Day (Sept. 21), celebrating its freedom after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
But, these days, many Armenians are more concerned with their existence than with their independence.
[…]
A diminishing Armenia succumbed to vast territorial gains by Turkey in 1920 and more recently to Azerbaijan in 2020 after a brief but devastating war.
Armenia is home to just less than 3 million residents who live in a hostile neighborhood in the South Caucus. The predominantly Christian country borders Georgia to the north and on its other borders are Muslim nations, including its arch enemies Turkey and Azerbaijan, and its ironic ally, Iran.
It is a complex region in which Iran and Russia are Armenia’s allies – yet both of them have their own complicated relations with Turkey.
One of Armenia’s deep concerns now, Djernazian said, is Azerbaijan moving into Armenia’s Syunik region – a sliver of land disconnecting Azerbaijan from its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Doing so could cut off Armenia geographically from Iran.
But that is not the only territory at stake, apparently. In 2018, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said the Armenian capital, “Yerevan is our historical land, and we, Azerbaijanis, should return to those lands.”
“This is our political and strategic goal, and we should gradually reach it,” he added in a speech in which he also claimed the Zangezur region, in southern Armenia and the region surrounding Lake Sevan.
TERRITORIAL DISPUTE OR JIHAD?
Is the ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict a historic territorial dispute or, as some Christian advocates say, religious?
“On the surface, and as widely reported by media, this is yet another territorial dispute, this time between (Christian) Armenia and (Muslim) Azerbaijan. Beneath the surface, however, lurks that old Muslim-Christian divide, typified by jihadist hate for ‘infidels,’” writes Raymond Ibrahim, an author who frequently speaks about persecution of Christians by Muslims.
Ibrahim, who has been following the conflict, contends that the evidence of Azeri soldiers’ alleged atrocities, which have gone largely unreported, point to Islam. Take for instance last week’s rape and mutilation of a female Armenian soldier – which appears to have only been reported in Armenian media outlets and could not be independently confirmed by ALL ARAB NEWS.
“They committed atrocities in our combat positions against our servicemen, including women soldiers,” said Army Chief of Staff Edward Asryan in a briefing to diplomats. “I cannot find words to describe how they dismembered a female soldier, cut off her legs, fingers and stripped her naked. This is unheard of cruelty.”
Ibrahim writes that the “severing of this woman’s fingers is a telltale sign that jihadist motives were behind the mutilation.”
THE ARMENIAN CONNECTION TO MODERN AND ANCIENT ISRAEL
The Armenians as a people group date back to the 7th century B.C. In 301 A.D., King Tiridates III declared Christianity the national religion and thus it has remained through the centuries. It was this decision that sparked pilgrimages to Jerusalem to see the sites where Jesus was crucified, buried and rose again. And this is what led to the modern-day Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem’s Old City.
The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. plans to open an exhibit focusing on Armenia’s unique connection to Christianity and the Bible, translated in Armenian as “breath of God.”
“In 2023, Museum of the Bible will open a groundbreaking exhibition focusing on the significance of the Armenian Church and people to the history of the Bible. The Bible, or the ‘breath of God’ in Armenian, is deeply ingrained in Armenia’s culture. In this exhibition, guests will explore the Bible’s history in Armenia and see that it is ancient, exceptional, and resilient,” the Museum says on its website.
For Djernazian – the grandson of genocide survivors – and other Armenians in Jerusalem, the connection to their homeland remains deep.
“The Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem is like a little Armenia,” he continued. “We all care for its future and the continuation of the Armenian presence here and Armenia as well. Both places complete each other, both places are home to all Armenians and, as much as we care about our home here, we care also for our homeland, Armenia.”
An issue worthy of research, since Azerbaijan is the most secularised Muslim-majority country, women wear shorts, and only 8% of the population wants sharia law.
Thanks for that comment Tekyo, what is your source for that information?
Could you post a link of an article or video?
This indicates that despite this, their Muslim identity and hatred of Christians persists.
The majority has nothing to do with the current war of opportunity. The West has offered assistance – and no doubt bribes – to open a new front against Christians … and the corrupt leadership has accepted this offer. They don’t have to have Islam to hate Christians and/or engage in proxy wars, but it would be naive to doubt that Islam makes it easier to find fanatics to go murder Armenian civilians.
e.g. Zelensky has to suppress his opponents – and anyone wanting peace – and draft his citizens to go kill and get killed.
I’m pretty sure Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev does not have this problem.
God bless.
An issue worthy of research, since Azerbaijan is the most secularised Muslim-majority country, women wear shorts, and only 8% of the population wants sharia law.
Thanks for that comment Tekyo, what is your source for that information?
Could you post a link of an article or video?
This indicates that despite this, their Muslim identity and hatred of Christians persists.
The majority has nothing to do with the current war of opportunity. The West has offered assistance – and no doubt bribes – to open a new front against Christians … and the corrupt leadership has accepted this offer. They don’t have to have Islam to hate Christians and/or engage in proxy wars, but it would be naive to doubt that Islam makes it easier to find fanatics to go murder Armenian civilians.
e.g. Zelensky has to suppress his opponents – and anyone wanting peace – and draft his citizens to go kill and get killed.
I’m pretty sure Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev does not have this problem.
God bless.
Thanks Raymond, fingers installed in various places in the victim is and act described in a different article that you did. Not just removed but used a macabre source of humor and derision of the victim.
None of this surprises, just galvanizes the desire to stop it.
But we need to see the continuation of it in articles like this…lest we forget…become complacent…rest in our own safe conditions…in the illusion of constancy…while the danger slowly engulfs portions of the world – and – one day we find it around us…what then?
Tack igen (Swedish/Thanks again) Raymond
Frankly, I think Raymond Ibrahim is a trifle too eager to blame any anti-Christian act on Islam or other anti-Christian animosity. When Spanish workers burned churches in Spain, they were not against Christianity as such, they were opposed to the Church’s reactionary policies. La Pasionaria, the top Spanish communist official, bore a RELIGIOUS name, derived from the passion of Christ.
S
Ignore previous comment from me before I understood how to comment on the article. “South Caucus”? Should that not be the “South Caucasus?” Line 13: “Djernazian said”. And who is “Djernazian”? Mr. Ibrahim, I so much enjoy your articles. I lived/worked in Saudi Arabia for 4 yrs., ’78-’82 and I know what Islam is. I won’t go there. But please, proofread what you write and I’ll hopefully enjoy your truth and logic for a few more years.
Yep, Saudis treat workers like slaves, make them sign a contract which forbits them to leave the country, “owner” controls their food, housing, labour hours and conditions. Literally modern slavery, a product of Islam. Islam is slavery and vileness.
Thanks Raymond, fingers installed in various places in the victim is and act described in a different article that you did. Not just removed but used a macabre source of humor and derision of the victim.
None of this surprises, just galvanizes the desire to stop it.
But we need to see the continuation of it in articles like this…lest we forget…become complacent…rest in our own safe conditions…in the illusion of constancy…while the danger slowly engulfs portions of the world – and – one day we find it around us…what then?
Tack igen (Swedish/Thanks again) Raymond
Frankly, I think Raymond Ibrahim is a trifle too eager to blame any anti-Christian act on Islam or other anti-Christian animosity. When Spanish workers burned churches in Spain, they were not against Christianity as such, they were opposed to the Church’s reactionary policies. La Pasionaria, the top Spanish communist official, bore a RELIGIOUS name, derived from the passion of Christ.
Ignore previous comment from me before I understood how to comment on the article. “South Caucus”? Should that not be the “South Caucasus?” Line 13: “Djernazian said”. And who is “Djernazian”? Mr. Ibrahim, I so much enjoy your articles. I lived/worked in Saudi Arabia for 4 yrs., ’78-’82 and I know what Islam is. I won’t go there. But please, proofread what you write and I’ll hopefully enjoy your truth and logic for a few more years.
Yep, Saudis treat workers like slaves, make them sign a contract which forbits them to leave the country, “owner” controls their food, housing, labour hours and conditions. Literally modern slavery, a product of Islam. Islam is slavery and vileness.