Islam calls for respect of the life and physical integrity of non-Muslim people.

In Islam, it is strictly forbidden to force someone to become a Muslim.

Entering Islam must be done voluntarily.

Allah says in the Quran:

{ لَاۤ إِكۡرَاهَ فِی ٱلدِّینِۖ }

“No compulsion in [the acceptance of] religion. »

[Surat AL-BAQARAH: 256]

Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world. And it is certainly not due to wars and fights.

In fact, the country which has the biggest muslim population in the world is Indonesia. Islam spread in this country through the contact of muslim merchants.

Islam forbids all kinds of injustice and oppression.

Even in time of war, it is forbidden to harm non-combatant civilians, women, children, old people, monks and priests.

It is even forbidden to cut trees or kill livestock with the aim of harming the inhabitants and destroying their property.

Allah says in the Quran:

 }مِنۡ أَجۡلِ ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ كَتَبۡنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِیۤ إِسۡرَ ٰ⁠ۤءِیلَ أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفۡسَۢا بِغَیۡرِ نَفۡسٍ أَوۡ فَسَادࣲ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِیعࣰا وَمَنۡ أَحۡیَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَاۤ أَحۡیَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِیعࣰاۚ{

“Therefore We commanded the Children of Israel that whoever kills a person not guilty of murder or corruption on earth, it is as if he had killed all men. And whoever gives him life, it is as if he were giving life to all men. »

[Surah AL-MÃ-‘IDAH: 32]

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Beware of oppression, for oppression will turn into excessive darkness on the Day of Resurrection”

Authentic Hadith narrated by Muslim, Hadith n°2578.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “If anyone wrongs a man with whom a covenant has been made (i.e. a non-Muslim), or restricts any of his rights, or imposes on him more than he can endure, or take something from him without his immediate agreement, I will be his adversary on the day of resurrection.” Authentic hadith narrated by Abu Dawood, hadith n°3052.

Armenian genocide, Hamidian massacres, Shushi massacres, crimes against the Armenian populations of Artsakh (Karabakh)…

All these crimes are condemned by Islam and completely contradictory to religion.

Evil is evil no matter who does it.

Blaming Islam for the heinous crimes committed by some Muslims is a grave injustice.

When a Muslim commits an evil, then it is incumbent not to put the blame on Islam, because the religion condemns all injustices and crimes.

Otherwise, what about the many crimes committed by Christians? Didn’t the European colonists claim the evangelization of the populations? Didn’t they force entire populations to accept their religion? Did they not commit numerous crimes and massacres against the colonized populations?

Is it Christianity that calls to commit these injustices? Or is it rather the act of evil people claiming to follow religion while contradicting its principles?

It is worth remembering that the Armenians and other Christians were not the only ones who suffered injustice from the Turks.

The latter have committed heinous massacres against the Arab populations, even though they share the same religion.

Even today, and this for many years, conflicts oppose Turks and Kurds.

All these crimes and massacres are only the result of political, ethnic or territorial conflicts. Religion is only used as an excuse and justification by malicious people to commit crimes against religious values.

Islam is therefore innocent of all these crimes committed in its name.

Moreover, it should be noted that historically the Muslims have long maintained good relations with the Armenians, and this for centuries.

During the Arab domination which lasted nearly 200 years, Armenia had political autonomy and religious freedom.

Similarly under Ottoman rule, Armenians lived freely, with some even occupying important positions in the empire. For more than 400 years, Armenians lived in peace. Unfortunately towards the end of the 19th century, political problems began within the Ottoman Empire and culminated in massacres and the infamous Armenian Genocide.

Many Armenian families fleeing the genocide took refuge in the countries of the Levant (Syria, Lebanon) where they were welcomed with open arms by the Muslim Arabs, granting them asylum and integrating them fully into society.

Throughout history, many Armenians converted to Islam voluntarily and contributed positively to the development of Islamic society.

Among the most prominent Armenian Muslim personalities, we can cite:

Farqad Sabakhi (died 729), scholar and ascetic of the first centuries of Islam.

Ali ibn Yahya al-Armani (died 863), military commander, governor of Tarsus then governor of Armenia.

Mleh I (died 1175), reigning prince of Cilicia.

Mimar Sinan (died 1588), architect, engineer, creator of classical Ottoman architecture.

And many more…

These examples of integration into Muslim society prove to us that Islam does not belong to any ethnicity. Islam is not the religion of Turks, Azeris or Arabs. Islam is the religion chosen by our Lord for all mankind. Choosing Islam as a religion does not mean denying our ethnicity and our Armenian heritage.

The first Armenians were Zoroastrians, pagans and idolaters.

Were our ancestors fake Armenians?

Or did Christian Armenians betray their ancestors by accepting Christianity?

Neither.

In reality, the choice of religion must be a personal choice based on objectivity and the search for truth, regardless of our place of birth or our ethnic origin.

Our ancestors left behind paganism to follow what they believed to be the truth.

And no doubt the religion taught by Gregory the Illuminator was closer to the original message of Jesus, Islam, than is modern Christianity, which has totally altered and modified the teachings of the noble Prophet of Islam Jesus son of Mary, peace be upon them.