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ARMENIAN COMMUNITY SLAMS NISANYAN FOR BLASPHEMOUS REMARKS ABOUT ISLAM'S PROPHET
Today's Zaman
Oct 3 2012
Turkey
Sevan NiĊ~_anyan, a journalist, has drawn widespread criticism from
representatives of the Armenian community for blasphemous remarks
he made about Prophet Muhammad in an article he wrote in his column
last week.
In the article, titled "Hatred crimes should be fought," NiĊ~_anyan
voices his support for a controversial anti-Muslim movie that sparked
violent protests in Egypt and Libya last month.
Clips of the movie, posted on YouTube under several titles including
"Innocence of Muslims," portrayed the Muslim prophet engaged in crude
and offensive behavior. Many Muslims consider any depiction of the
prophet as blasphemous.
NiĊ~_anyan says, "Mocking an Arab leader who centuries ago allegedly
contacted God and made political, financial and sexual benefits out
of this is not a crime of hatred;" it is freedom of speech.
Bishop Sahag Masalyan, who is responsible for the Armenian
Patriarchate's ecumenical and inter-religious relations, told Today's
Zaman that NiĊ~_anyan's remarks about Prophet Muhammad are the kind
that will damage social peace and lead to provocation.
He said NiĊ~_anyan's statements are unacceptable, and they do not
approve of them.
"His remarks do not just target the prophet of Islam but all prophets.
He has a similar attitude in his other articles. He is not a well-known
authority for us to take seriously," said Masalyan, accusing NiĊ~_anyan
of mixing freedom of speech with insulting one's religious values.
A representative of the Armenian community, Bedros Ċ~^irinoglu, also
condemned NiĊ~_anyan's remarks about Prophet Muhammad, defining them as
"ugly."
"I am a Christian. I find what he wrote very disrespectful. I
strongly condemn his statements. Making such remarks about the
prophet of the Islamic world is unacceptable. Every negative thing
told about Prophet Muhammad is also said about Jesus because all of
them are real prophets. These are very ugly and dangerous statements,"
Ċ~^irinoglu said.
He also said legal action should be taken against NiĊ~_anyan for making
the blasphemous remarks, and his remarks should not go unpunished.
Ara Kocunyan, editor-in-chief of the Armenian daily Jamanak, published
in Ä°stanbul, said NiĊ~_anyan's remarks do not reflect the views
of the Armenian community in Turkey and that they never approve of
such statements.
"We never approve of remarks that insult other beliefs. Our community
is of the opinion that inter-religious dialogue and tolerance are
of the utmost importance. Now the mistake in question should be
corrected," he said.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-294187-armenian-community-slams-nisanyan-for-blasphemous-remarks-about-islams-prophet.html
Today's Zaman
Oct 3 2012
Turkey
Sevan NiĊ~_anyan, a journalist, has drawn widespread criticism from
representatives of the Armenian community for blasphemous remarks
he made about Prophet Muhammad in an article he wrote in his column
last week.
In the article, titled "Hatred crimes should be fought," NiĊ~_anyan
voices his support for a controversial anti-Muslim movie that sparked
violent protests in Egypt and Libya last month.
Clips of the movie, posted on YouTube under several titles including
"Innocence of Muslims," portrayed the Muslim prophet engaged in crude
and offensive behavior. Many Muslims consider any depiction of the
prophet as blasphemous.
NiĊ~_anyan says, "Mocking an Arab leader who centuries ago allegedly
contacted God and made political, financial and sexual benefits out
of this is not a crime of hatred;" it is freedom of speech.
Bishop Sahag Masalyan, who is responsible for the Armenian
Patriarchate's ecumenical and inter-religious relations, told Today's
Zaman that NiĊ~_anyan's remarks about Prophet Muhammad are the kind
that will damage social peace and lead to provocation.
He said NiĊ~_anyan's statements are unacceptable, and they do not
approve of them.
"His remarks do not just target the prophet of Islam but all prophets.
He has a similar attitude in his other articles. He is not a well-known
authority for us to take seriously," said Masalyan, accusing NiĊ~_anyan
of mixing freedom of speech with insulting one's religious values.
A representative of the Armenian community, Bedros Ċ~^irinoglu, also
condemned NiĊ~_anyan's remarks about Prophet Muhammad, defining them as
"ugly."
"I am a Christian. I find what he wrote very disrespectful. I
strongly condemn his statements. Making such remarks about the
prophet of the Islamic world is unacceptable. Every negative thing
told about Prophet Muhammad is also said about Jesus because all of
them are real prophets. These are very ugly and dangerous statements,"
Ċ~^irinoglu said.
He also said legal action should be taken against NiĊ~_anyan for making
the blasphemous remarks, and his remarks should not go unpunished.
Ara Kocunyan, editor-in-chief of the Armenian daily Jamanak, published
in Ä°stanbul, said NiĊ~_anyan's remarks do not reflect the views
of the Armenian community in Turkey and that they never approve of
such statements.
"We never approve of remarks that insult other beliefs. Our community
is of the opinion that inter-religious dialogue and tolerance are
of the utmost importance. Now the mistake in question should be
corrected," he said.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-294187-armenian-community-slams-nisanyan-for-blasphemous-remarks-about-islams-prophet.html