VIDEO: I Was Just Saying 'Yes,' 'Yes': The Explanation from the Mother of the Child Who Converted to Islam

A few days ago, the attention of the media was drawn to a 13-year-old Armenian boy named Arthur, who changed his religion and name during a live broadcast on a Turkish television channel. This video received widespread reactions. SHANTNEWS.am contacted Arthur and his mother, who provided clarifications and details.

“There was a woman named Susan, and she said to me, what should I tell him? She said, today is his birthday, you will kiss his hand,” Arthur mentioned in an interview with the media.

His mother interrupted him, explaining, “I didn’t even know it was that person’s (the Turkish cleric) birthday, I just found out now.”

“She said, we talked to your mommy, and she said, just say what I say after me, that’s it. And I said, I’m done,” Arthur said.

The boy’s mother recounted, “I wasn’t even home to watch my child on television. I was outside, and I received a call from a girl who asked if I was Arthur’s mother, and I said yes. I was shopping at the time, and whatever they were talking about, I was just saying ‘yes,’ ‘yes.’ I had no idea such a thing would happen, I never imagined he would be on stage with such expressions. If I had known this would happen, I would have gone myself, listened; no one offered me any money. I asked Arthur, ‘Did they offer you money?’ and he said, ‘No, mom.’ I spoke with Garo Paylan, and he said he raised that issue, and I didn’t want to complain about it. I have been here for 12 years, working in a shop, raising my child since he was little.”

She said that they had no right to treat the child in such a manner, regardless of the child's ethnicity or religious affiliation.