This kind of thing has happened all over what is known as the Islamic world. Indeed, this was how the Islamic world was created. Taking the land of infidels and effacing all traces of their historical presence has happened in Turkey, the “Palestinian” areas, North Africa, India, and in many other places. It is all part of the imperative to fight until “religion is all for Allah” (Qur’an 8:39).
“Azerbaijan destroys Christian sites, heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh,” by Jack Bethel, Christian Daily International, July 19, 2024:
Azerbaijan is guilty of “cultural genocide” for destroying Christian sites in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and falsely claiming that Armenian religious presence there never existed, according to a report by a legal advocacy group.
The European Centre for Law & Justice (ECLJ)’s report lists eradication of “churches, monasteries, khachkars [cross-stones] and other cultural artifacts that tell of the faith and culture of the Armenian people.”
Azerbaijan gained control of the majority of Nagorno after the Second Karabakh War, September 2020 to November 2020. Dozens of Armenian Christian heritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh were destroyed, damaged, or closed to the public during that period, according to the June report, “The Systematic Erasure of Armenian Christian Heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh.”
There are now 500 sites under Azerbaijan’s control, with 6,000 Armenian monuments, the report states. Foreign observers are banned from the sites, but satellite surveillance has revealed the destruction.
Churches damaged or destroyed, as listed in the report, include Meghretsots Holy Mother of God Church, the seventh-century Vankasar Church in Tigranakert, St. John’s Cathedral of the Mother of God in Stepanaker, and Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi, defaced with “multiple religious symbols… removed from the church, including the unique angels on the building’s gate, the domes of the church, and the cathedral’s cross.”
Under the pretense of renovation, the Azerbaijani government vandalized the Surb Sargis Church, built in 1279 in Tsar village of Karvachar, according to the report.
“Azerbaijani efforts to restore this church have taken the form of destroying religious symbols and enclosing the area from view via a large iron fence,” the report states.
Two historic polished stone slabs at the same church site, decorated with Christian artwork and Armenian language inscriptions, were smashed.
“Thus, this destruction has not only deprived Armenia of a unique piece of its heritage, but it has removed undeniable evidence of the Armenian origins of the church,” the report states.
Other incidents include the razing of an 18th century church building, St. Sargis of Hadrut in Mokhrenes, in March 2022, and the Azerbaijanis “completely cleared the land and have begun building a new structure atop the grounds of the church.”
St. John the Baptist Church in Shushi revealed signs of Azerbaijani bomb damage in 2020, as shown in satellite imagery earlier this year (April 4), and the building was destroyed, according to the report….
somehistory says
molzum thugs believe that by destroying churches and other property of Christians, they will destroy Christianity. But, they never will succeed.
God does not ‘dwell in buildings’ and the faith of Christians does not depend on things we can see. Faith is stronger than mozlums and their ilk believe it to be and as Paul wrote, ‘nothing can separate us from the love of the Christ.’
If I could speak to those people being so affected by all of this, I would remind them to ‘hold fast to what is fine’ and leave the outcome in God’s Hands.
Spiro says
Destroying other religions
to me is a clear sign of dread on the part of the destroyer who lives in fear
GE says
“Azerbaijan destroys Christian sites”
Of course they did. It’s what they do.
Savages
Troybeam says
Destroy everything non Islamic so that the people don’t know any different but Islam.
Sarmander says
That could be a quote from their book, really – it’s in line with the general theme.
Jack Reynolds says
Canada has lots and lots of under used land in the North, more than enough to create 100 GAZA-like communities.
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Canada has a centuries old tradition of separating peoples who cannot get along with their neighbours.
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Mick says
Azeris are Shi’ites, like the Iranians who have sheltered Armenians for 1000? years.They joined in the 1915 Armenian genocide and have rejoined Sunni Turkey’s assault on Armenia.
Rita says
The objective in destroying other civilisations is so that future generations of muslims cannot compare these great civilisations with the VACUITY of islam.
40 rounds says
You can’t destroy God, and nothing escapes him. Unlike us, he is omnipotent, all wise, all powerful. The Muslims may have won the temporary battle, but in the end, justice will prevail for all to see.
FIC says
Islam’s tradition is to “Palestinate” everywhere they grow.
libertyORdeath says
Islamists definitely understand the long game.
In 100 years most people will believe that the Armenians never existed in the region. It’s been done before and will be done again if Western ignorance and inaction continues.
Rita says
The objective in destroying other civilisations is so that future generations of muslims cannot compare these great civilisations with the VACUITY of islam.
gravenimage says
Azerbaijan destroys Christian sites, heritage in Artsakh
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Just appalling–but this should surprise no one.