The graves of the Armenians of the formerly-Armenian-populated Payajuk village in Iran’s Salmas County are being ruined by treasure hunters.    

A group of pilgrims from Armenia, who visited the Armenian spiritual and cultural centers in Iran, were quite saddened by what they saw in the Payajuk village cemetery because, in the hopes of finding gold or treasures, unidentified people had destroyed and desecrated the graves of the Armenians who are buried there.

Those in charge of the local tourism sector noted that they regret that such a thing is happening, and promised to inform the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance about what had occurred and ask to take measures to protect this cemetery.

Solely one Armenian family still lives in Payajuk village.

Photos by Anush Drampyan