Yesterday was the 90th anniversary of the Azerbaijan genocide. A time when, the Dashnak-Bolshevik government of S. Shaumyan seized power and from March to April slaughtered Azerbaijanis in Baku, Shamakhi and other regions. During that period, Turkey extended a helping hand to Azerbaijan and rescued the Azerbaijani population from being killed one.
Israel, in its growing dialogue with others who have suffered genocide, formally recognized the historic event by holding its own events. An event held in the House of Diaspora in Rishon Le Tsion city, Israel was attended by representatives of Israeli Parliament, Mayor of Rishon Le Tsion, members of diplomatic missions in Israel and representatives of the Azerbaijani community in Israel.
The Azerbaijan genocide is a minor footnote in history even though it is one of the most tragic events to befall their population in the last hundred years. In part, the obscurity of the genocide stems from the relative isolation of Azerbaijan, the geo-political difficulty of the region and the fact that the event was overwhelmed by larger world events i.e. WWI. Therefore the extensive deaths were shrouded by large geo-political issues.
However, the Azeris have dedicated March 31st to be a day of universal remembrance of the genocide. I feel that this is a huge step in increasing awareness and in remembrance. Without an understanding of history we cannot move beyond history. By taking the effort, even if only in writing, the Azeris are forcing awareness of the topic and creating a space for dialogue if not yet understanding.
Similarly, the Isreali recognition of the event is creating a larger space in which to discuss genocide. Linking genocides creates awareness. The more we discuss genocides in tandem, it becomes obvious that they are not singular events. While genocides differ, they have similar points of connectivity. Unless we increase awareness of these connections and create connections in people’s minds, we are doing the entire topic a disservice.
April 1, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I am glad Azarbaijan genocide got recognized.
April 2, 2008 at 12:11 pm
You do realize not all genocides are created equal, don’t you?
Like you said “Therefore, we must recognize that every genocide has gradations of victims” and to be wary of those playing the victim. Azerbaijan is attempting to play the victim in this one for sympathy by stitching together various and different incidents throughout history and just labeling them “the Azeri Genocide”, which essentially is alleged to have occured from 1905 (if not a century earlier) until 1994. For example the 1918 incident which marks the cornerstone of their genocide seems to be- best I know about it- a case of mutual massacres. Azeris killed Armenians in Baku, Armenians came to power in Baku and massacred Azeris. Then Azeris came back and massacred more Armenians. What kind of genocide is that? Same with the other incidents, 1905 was a war between Armenians and Azeris as was 1992 incidents. I think running a blog on genocide means being discriminating on what is actually a genocide. Just because a group calls it that doesn’t mean it is one. You seem to have an open mind and question whether it was Armenian Genocide or not, yet you don’t appear to have the same care when it comes to the even more obscure and fabricated Azeri Genocide.
April 3, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Dear Hmm, according to your logic there was not any Armenian Genocide, as Armenians (being the citizens of the Ottoman Empire) were killing fellow citizens (Turks) during the Russo-Turkish war, and in return the Turks started killing the Armenians. Your logic (if there is any at all) is that once two sides take terms on killing each other, it nullifies its genocidal essence, interesting perspective, I just wonder why you are not applying it to the Armenian Genocide, I hope it is not your prejudice against the Azeris.
April 16, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I actually didn’t say any of that at all, and have no idea what you’re talking about. I think you must not have a grasp of the history of the region and so just took what I said as groups taking turns massacring each other. What I did say is that genocide aside, there were wars during this period of history and Azerbaijan has retroactively gathered together every instance of this and given it the over-arching term Azeri Genocide. By their reasoning, the war between Armenians and Azeris 1905-06 (in Russia, not the Ottoman Armenians who were later victims of genocide as you alluded and with Azeris, not the Ottoman Turks) was part of a genocide which was ongoing in 1992 during the Karabakh war, neglecting the multiple massacres of Armenians throughout Azerbaijan in 1988 on.
Your conclusions are based on either complete confusion and ignorance or intentional misrepresentation.