Armenian communities to become target of Islamists? (video)
Tensions over Islam can lead to confrontations. “If you insult the sacred values of Islam, they believe that they must take revenge on you. The idea of revenge is especially instilled by the radical wing of the Islamic Movement which has become a mighty force today,” says Vardan Khachatryan, an expert on Religious Studies. Sargis Grigoryan, an expert on Islamic Studies, holds a different opinion. “Of course there is a risk, there is tension, but I do not predict dangerous consequences,” he said. The expert admits that the number of adherents to radical Islam is increasing rapidly which is a real threat to the Christian world, including Armenian communities in Arabic countries. The Armenian community in Lebanon might become the first target, say the experts. Mr Khachatryan says if Islamists are deported from Europe, their reaction can be predicted especially in the Middle East which ‘is already going up in flames.’ Tensions have always existed but there are also opposite sentiments, campaigns against Muslims or the arson attacks against mosques,” said Sargis Grigoryan.
