1,5 Million Cryptoarmenians of Turkey
AZG Armenian Daily #068, 16/04/2005 ARMENIAN CONVERTS IN TURKEY BRAVELY AVOW THEIR NATIONALITY The oppressed minorities of Turkey, most of whom evaded genocides by passing into Islam, are getting bolder in their speeches and activities as the country bids for the EU. The Greeks of Pontos, Assyrians, Arabs and especially Armenians of Hamshen, Mush, Sassoon, Vardo, Zakho and other regions who were "turned into" Kurds and Muslims are living days of wakening. The latter sent a delegation to take part in the rally of European Armenians in front of the European Parliament last September. Afterwards, excited by the ongoing pressures on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian converts give interviews to French, German, Belgian, Turkish and Armenian newspapers. We called the "mother" of "Kurdized" Armenians and Hamshen Armenians in Germany historian and political scientist Alis (Aliye) Alt to get information on these issues. He said from his Frankfurt apartment which is in effect is a castle for preserving the Armenianhood: "We always follow your articles on Hamshen Armenians and Armenian converts. Thanks to the influence of these articles that are often posted on the Internet, hundreds of lost Hamshen Armenians who feared to reveal their identity in past get in touch with us now. Certainly, the important reforms that took place in Turkey under the EU's pressure and... the threat that a Kurdish state will emerge forced Turkey's state circles to be a little more democratic with the free press and mass media. We call on the Armenians of Armenia and Diaspora to provide care for their brothers and sisters who were forcefully converted and who number 1.5 million in Turkey. Time is ripe for a conference to assemble all Armenians who are willing to get out of forced isolation, reveal their identity and tell about their 90 years long persecutions in European institutions. This is to be an all-Armenian initiative with contribution from all organizations", the author of "Hamshen Armenians in the Mirror of History" tells. Simon Geonden is from Karmir Khach village of Mush who currently lives in Wiesenbaden. He lived the greatest half of his life as a converted "Kurd" but returned to his roots due to the Kurdish national awakening. Emigrating to Germany as a student, he got in touch with national minorities from Turkey, including Armenian Genocide survivors. "We are hopeful that the European Armenians will be more kind to us. Some people have morbid understanding of the converts and want to see everything settled in a few days. Time will solve all our issues and will heal our deep wounds", Simon Geonden said. By Hamo Moskofian in Frankfort-Wiesbaden
