As Azeri-Press Agency reports, a brand new catholic church still under construction has been torched in Baku, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, pretty much like Turkey, insists that they are tolerant societies. Yet the reality paints a different picture. Such events as the pogroms and murder of Armenians in Sumgait or Baku, the murder of catholic priests in Trabizon, bombing of synagogues in Ankara, the murder of Hrant Dink in Istanbul and other hate crimes in recent years convince us that, despite all the propaganda, these societies are not a place to be if you are not a Turk or an Azeri.
The burning of this catholic church adds another line to this shameful list. Here is the APA news snippet.
Yes, Phyek, it isn't correct to generalize. Now a question... How many thousands of Azeris were involved in the progroms against Armenians in Sumgait that resulted in scores of Armenians mutilated and murdered.
ReplyDeleteWhen exactly do the actions of a minority reflect the desires of the majority, whether acted upon or not??? (Chello)
"Yes, Phyek, it isn't correct to generalize. Now a question... How many thousands of Azeris were involved in the progroms against Armenians in Sumgait that resulted in scores of Armenians mutilated and murdered."
ReplyDeleteYou're hint is all too obvious, but I'll answer anyway. The exact numbers will probably never be known. Conspiracy theories aside, according to Tom de Waal's research, hundreds (if not a few thousand) were directly involved of which 400 detained and 80 sentenced by the then Soviet authorities. While it wasn't complete justice, at the very least some were imprisoned. Many of those involved were Armenian-Azeris that were expelled from Kafan. That's not to excuse the disgusting acts of those criminals, but a few hundred disgraceful nationalists still do not speak for millions. Just like most decent people, regular Azeris were horrified by the pogroms and many helped Armenians hide and escape...something rarely mentioned.
Now a question... How many Armenian militants/solders were involved in the Kholaji massacre that resulted in the mutilation and murder of Azeris? How about the expulsion? Where any one of them held accountable? Or was that all just staged and carried out by the 'evil and intolerant' Azeris as some Armenian nationalists claim? Does that act represent all Armenians? I don't think so...
Not surprisingly, both sides are quick to point out the crimes of the other but brush aside the crimes of their own.
How about Azerbaijan's state sponsored destruction of anything remotely Armenian in Nakhichevan?
ReplyDeleteI can show you a day-old image of the Govhar Aga mosque in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is still standing, along with many others.
Extremism? Do you know what extremism means? It's when you kill an Armenian with an axe while he's sleeping in Hungary.
Tom de Waal's books and publications can be used as toilet paper and not much else.