Araz News:  Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs has published 4,000 copies of the Quran in the Armenian language, part of its plans to eventually translate the holy book into 15 languages.

The Armenian translation of the Quran was published in the eastern and western Armenian dialects after a thorough examination by experts on the Armenian language and literature as well as religious scholars, according to Yüksel Salman, who is in charge of religious publications at the directorate. The first copies will be sent to libraries and some associations, he said, adding that it will be available for purchase at a later date.

According to Salman, the publication of an Armenian translation of the Quran is part of the directorate’s efforts to spread the message of Islam at home and abroad. Commenting on the fact that the publication coincided with the centenary of what Armenians claim was a genocide of 1.5 million of their ancestors in eastern Anatolia, Salman said the timing was a “pure coincidence,” given that the work to prepare an Armenian version of the holy book had been under way for four years. The translation, he said, was completed in two-and-a-half years.

“But, on this occasion, we are glad to state that we were able to publish the Quran’s messages, which teach us that killing one person is like killing all of mankind and that saving one life is like saving the life of all mankind, in this language as well,” Salman was quoted as saying by the Cihan news agency.

Salman said the religious body has so far published Spanish, Kurdish and now Armenian translations of the Quran.

todayszaman