Sahakyan: Namaz in Ani also delivers blow to Muslims

“It is blameworthy; even if the Turks offer namaz there, replace the church icons or declare that it is theirs, all the same is has always been a Christian value, it belongs to the Armenian Church, lastly, it belongs to Armenia,” member of Armenian parliament and RPA faction, Hovhannes Sahakyan told aysor.am commenting upon the namaz offered in Ani Cathedral on the initiative of the Nationalist Movement Party of Turkey.

According to him, the namaz once again testifies that besides killing Armenians, Turks try to “cleanse” the Armenian roots, Armenian traces.

“This was a public event, and an impression is created that encroachment of Ani church is the only act of the kind. While, Turks have repeatedly encroached on Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territory of Turkey.”

According to the parliamentarian, Turkey had an opportunity to prove that it regrets for its actions, condemns the crime committed by its ancestors, while this country does the contrary by following the way of its ancestors who committed genocide.”

“Offering namaz in a Christian sacred place, church, also contradicts to Muslim traditions and laws, I think it is also a blow to Muslims’ dignity,” Sahakyan stressed.