(MENAFN- AzerNews) Throughout the tumultuous 20th century, Armenia mercilessly
subjected ethnic Azerbaijanis to unspeakable horrors, unleashing
displacement and various forms of persecution that inflicted
profound suffering and indelible scars on their memories.
The brutal expulsion of Azerbaijanis from Armenia between 1987
and 1991 marked the appalling conclusion of a century- long
campaign to eradicate them from what was once their ancestral
homeland. The Azerbaijani settlements in Armenia, which were once
flourishing cradles of Azerbaijani culture, lay abandoned yearning
for their rightful owners.
As if this malevolence were not enough, the 1991-1994 occupation
of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia brought an even darker
chapter of suffering. Approximately 800,000 Azerbaijanis were
savagely uprooted from their homes, forced into a cruel fate of
displacement. Cemeteries and sacred places of Azerbaijanis were
demonstratively destroyed, desecrating their cultural legacy and
inflicting irreparable wounds.
The brutality of Armenia knew no boundaries. It carried out
numerous massacres against innocent Azerbaijani civilians, claiming
the lives of over 20,000 souls. To this day, the fate of 4,000
missing individuals remains a haunting agony, a painful reminder of
the unresolved grief and suffering endured by the Azerbaijani
people.
In tent camps, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani refugees and
IDPs endured unimaginable living conditions, devoid of basic
services. This prolonged displacement, tore families apart, wrought
havoc upon their social fabric, leaving them grappling with despair
and uncertainty.
For years, Armenia brazenly defied international law, clinging
to its occupation and preventing the safe return of Azerbaijani
IDPs. Only in the Autumn of 2020, when Azerbaijan liberated its
occupied territories while countering yet another vicious attack by
Armenia, did the IDPs finally glimpse a glimmer of hope to return
home.
Yet, the road to rehabilitation and reintegration has been paved
with unprecedented challenges and hardships. With cruel intent,
Armenia left the once-occupied territories heavily contaminated
with landmines, rendering vast swaths of land uninhabitable
deathtraps. With blatant disregard for human life, Armenia refuses
to reveal the location of these hidden seeds of death, attacking
the very essence of the international humanitarian law.
The world's response to the unprecedent injustice inflicted upon
ethnic Azerbaijanis has been nothing short of disheartening,
exposing glaring double standards in addressing human rights
issues. Despite the gravity of Armenia's heinous actions, the
global community has turned a blind eye, failing to afford the
Azerbaijani plight the empathy and support it so desperately
deserves.
The selective approach of the so-called "international
community" is a disheartening display of bias and indifference,
evident in their disregard for the immense suffering endured by the
Azerbaijani people. They seem to prefer to conveniently forget the
plight of ethnic Azerbaijanis, who have faced displacement,
persecution, and massacres. Instead, attempts are made to shift
focus towards non-existent and fabricated "potential" problems of
Armenians residing in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
One of the disconcerting hoaxes perpetuated is the portrayal of
the area of Azerbaijan, where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily
deployed, as something exclusively related to ethnic Armenians,
deliberately obscuring the painful truth of the past. The fact is
that Azerbaijanis were brutally expelled from multiple settlements
in that very area, including from Khankendi, Karkijahan, Malibayli,
Garadaghly, and Khojaly. The haunting memories of the 1992 massacre
in Khojaly, where Armenian forces orchestrated a mass killing of
Azerbaijani civilians, still reverberate, leaving scars difficult
to heal. The displaced Azerbaijanis are still unable to return to
those settlements. Such a misleading narrative, painting a picture
of exclusivity for the Armenian population, only serves to
perpetuate an unjust and divisive approach.
This lopsided view exposes the true colors of those who claim to
uphold justice and human rights, as they blatantly ignore the
rights and hardships of Azerbaijanis, fueled by ethnic and
religious considerations.
Such a stance endorses Armenia's war crimes, crimes against
humanity, and racial discrimination, allowing injustice to prevail
and perpetuating the cycle of suffering for the Azerbaijani
people.
Buoyed by this preferential treatment, Armenia persists in its
arrogance, denying the right of expelled Azerbaijanis to return to
their rightful homes. They shamelessly label the forced expulsion
as "voluntary," a perverse attempt to strip Azerbaijani refugees of
their fundamental right to return. Armenia's persistent refusal to
engage in dialogue with the Western Azerbaijan Community regarding
the safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis expelled from
Armenia, while labeling their legitimate cause as a mere
"territorial claim," serves as yet another troubling testament to
this state's adherence to a mono-ethnic policy and its deep-rooted
Azerbaijanophobia.
Furthermore, Armenia's assertion of the "exclusivity of Karabakh
Armenians" echoes a deeply problematic and unsettling ideology,
evoking historical parallels that should serve as a stark warning.
Such a notion displays a dangerous belief in racial superiority and
the exclusion of others based on ethnicity.
The international community's failure to condemn Armenia's
misdeeds only reinforces the perception of pro-Armenia bias,
leaving Azerbaijanis to bear the burden of injustice without the
support they deserve.
The displacement plight of ethnic Azerbaijanis stands as a
haunting testament to humanity's capacity for cruelty and
indifference. The scars inflicted upon the Azerbaijani people cry
out for attention and action, demanding that the world unmask its
double standards.
It is high time for the international community to reflect on
its actions, rectify its selective approach, and truly stand up for
justice and human rights, regardless of ethnic origin or religion.
Only then can we hope for a more equitable and inclusive world that
rejects discrimination and embraces genuine peace and
reconciliation.
1. Aziz Alakbarov – Chairperson of the Board of the Western
Azerbaijan Community;
2. Fatma Sattarova – Chairperson of the Organization of Veterans
of War, Labor and Armed Forces Veterans of the Republic of
Azerbaijan;
3. Tural Ganjaliyev – Chairperson of the "Return to Karabakh"
Public Union;
4. Khatira Valiyeva – Chairperson of "Khankendi – Support for
Internally Displaced Persons” Public Union;
5. Konul Behbudova – Chairperson of the "Missing Families of
Karabakh" Public Union;
6. Vugar Gadirov – Chairperson of the "Youth Organization for
Return and Revival" Public Union;
7. Shamil Alakbarli – Chairperson of the "Raising Awareness about
the Khojaly Genocide" Public Union;
8. Novella Jafarova – Chairperson of“Azerbaijan Women's Rights
Protection Society named after D. Aliyeva”;
9. Saida Gocamanli – Chairperson of the“Protection of Human Rights
and Rule of Law” Public Union;
10. Saadat Bananyarli – Chairperson of the Azerbaijani National
Branch of the International Society for Human Rights;
11. Mehriban Mammadova – Chairperson of "Humanitarian Studies"
Public Union;
12. Rauf Zeini – Chairperson of Azerbaijan National
Non-Governmental Organizations Forum;
13. Ramil Iskanderli – Chairperson of "Legal Analysis and Research"
Public Union;
14. Hafiz Safikhanov – Chairperson of "Azerbaijan Campaign Against
Landmines" Public Union ;
15. Oktay Sadigov – Chairperson of the Public Union "Support for
Refugees and Deportees";
16. Ray Karimoglu – Chairperson of the“Association of Mine Victims
in Azerbaijan” Public Union;
17. Sevinj Alizadeh – Chairperson of "Zafar – Support for the
Families of Martyrs” Public Union;
18. Shamistan Alizamanli – Chairman of the "Support to the
Promotion of Patriotism" Public Union;
19. Bahruz Mammadzadeh – Chairperson of the "Servicemen of Special
Forces, Families of Martyrs and Veterans" Public Union;
20. Seria Jafarova – Chairperson of "Raising Awereness about
Armenian Aggression" Public Union;
21. Faig Ismayilov – Chairperson of the“Organization for the
Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments in the Occupied
Territories of Azerbaijan” Public Union;
22. Telman Gasimov – Chairperson of the "Scientific Research"
Public Union;
23. Mushfiq Alasgarli – Chairperson of the "Support for Innovative
Initiatives in the Media" Public Union;
24. Umud Mirzayev – Chairperson of the“International Eurasia Press
Fund”;
25. Nasiman Yagublu – Chairperson of the "Support to History and
Press Research" Public Union;
26. Khalid Khalilov – Chairperson of the "Vatan" – Public Union of
Akhiskha Turks living in Azerbaijan;
27. Maria Huseynova – Chairperson of the "Support for the
development of Azerbaijan-Bulgaria Friendship" Public Union;
28. Elman Ahmadov – Chairperson of "Azeri – Tat Cultural Center”
Public Union.