Page "Pomaks" Paragraph 16

Tuhovishta's Mosque The mass turn to Islam in the Central Rhodope Mountains happened between the 16th and the 17th century.

According to the Codes of Bishopy of Philippoupolis and the Czech historian and slavist Konstantin Josef Jireček in the middle of 17th century, the Pomak provosts agreed to become Muslim en masse.

They visited the Ottoman local administrator to announce their decision, but he sent them to the Greek bishop of Philippoupolis Gabriel ( 1636 – 1672 ).

The bishop couldn't change their mind.

According to the verbal tradition of the Greeks of Philippoupolis, a large ceremony of mass circumcision took place in front of the old mosque of the city, near the Government House.

After that, the villagers became Muslim, too.

According to the verbal tradition of the Bulgrians, Grand Vizier Köprülü Mehmed Pasha ( 1656 – 1661 ) threatened the Pomaks of Chepino Valley that he would execute them if they didn't turn to Islam.

In 1656, Ottoman military troops entered the Chepino valley and arrested the provosts of Pomaks, in order to transfer them in the local Ottoman administrator.

There, they converted to Islam.

Grand Vizier Mehmed Köprülü, after the mass Islamization, destroyed 218 churches and 336 chapels in the areas of Pomaks.

A lot of Pomaks preferred to die instead of becoming Muslim ..

According to recent investigations the theory of forced conversion to Islam, supported by some scientists, has no solid grounds with all or most evidence being faked or misinterpreted.

Muslim communities prospered under the Ottoman Empire, as the Sultan was also the Caliph.

Ottoman law did not recognize such notions as ethnicity or citizenship ; thus, a Muslim of any ethnic background enjoyed precisely the same rights and privileges.