Armenian News-NEWS.am publishes the article in Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review with contractions.

The stories of Armenians who had concealed their identities for decades have begun surfacing over recent years as Turkey continues its path toward democratization. Many of them live under their Sunni – Muslim or Kurdish – Alevi identities, although they still define themselves ethnically as Armenians.

“Race, identity and religion are different things. I’ve been raised as a Sunni-Muslim, and live as one, but I deny neither my past nor my culture. I want to know my language,” a prominent Diyarbakır Armenian who identifies as a Sunni Muslim Gaffur Turkay said.

Turkay was 15 when he learned that his real surname is Ohanyan. His father was a pilgrim. Turkay grew up in Sunni–Muslim culture. According to him, Muslim Armenians in the southeastern province of
Diyarbakır recognize each other. Besides, Christian Armenians look down upon Muslim Armenians.

Yusuf Halakoglu, the former president of the Turkish Historical Society, said the situation in Diyarbakır could be seen in other parts of the country.

“There are hidden Armenians not just in Diyarbakır but all across Turkey, and now they are also revealing their identities,” he said.

Armenians converted into Islam who live in the provinces of Artvin and Rize in Turkey’s eastern Black Sea region define themselves as Hemsins and speak a dialect of the Armenian language. Hamshenite Armenians still maintain their Christian traditions, even though they define themselves as Muslims.