Armenia reaffirms its title as the "most anti-Semitic country in post-Soviet space"
Another act of vandalism in Yerevan
ANALYTICS 13 June 2024 - 14:41
On June 11, yet another blatant act of anti-Semitism occurred in Armenia, as an unidentified individual hurled a stone through the window of a Jewish religious centre in Yerevan. Following the incident, which could not be concealed, the Armenian leadership attempted to mitigate the negative fallout. Araik Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff of the Armenian Prime Minister's Office and Chairman of the Council for National Minorities of Armenia, was deployed to preserve the government's reputation.
Harutyunyan acknowledged the attack on the Jewish synagogue as alarming. "Law enforcement bodies are currently investigating the circumstances of the incident. Armenian authorities and society unequivocally condemn any act or attempt of national and religious xenophobia. Our society maintains an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect towards national minorities. Furthermore, representatives of national minorities are involved in all spheres of public life. We are confident that law enforcers will do their utmost to uncover the details of this incident," he stated.
However, this appears to be another attempt to mask a serious issue with superficial reassurances. Harutyunyan's (the namesake of the former head of the Karabakh junta) portrayal of the incident as an isolated, extraordinary occurrence is misleading. His claims of an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect for national minorities in Armenia ring hollow. This is the same country whose second President publicly declared the "genetic incompatibility of Armenians and Azerbaijanis," showcasing a distorted version of "tolerance" to the world.
Yes, Robert Kocharyan is no longer a representative of the Armenian government and is now in the opposition. However, as a former head of state, he still commands significant support. This was evident in the early parliamentary elections held on June 20, 2021, where 21.04% of voters backed the "Armenia" bloc, a coalition of Kocharyan and Dashnak supporters. To put it in numbers, 268,165 citizens of Armenia endorsed Kocharyan's views, including his stance on the "genetic incompatibility of Armenians and Azerbaijanis." This clearly undermines Araik Harutyunyan's claims about an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect for national minorities in Armenia.
Furthermore, Armenia has a troubling history of Judeophobia. On October 3 of last year, a synagogue in Yerevan was attacked. A group called ASALA_Young, which claims to be the successor to the historic terrorist organization ASALA (Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia), took responsibility for this and a subsequent attack. On November 15, there was an attempt to set fire to the only synagogue in Yerevan. This was notably the second instance of arson at a Jewish religious site worldwide since the Arab-Israeli conflict's escalation, and the first outside the Middle East (the previous instance occurred in Tunisia on October 18 of last year). Armenia's Chief Rabbi Gershon Burshtein recounted to Channel 5 of Armenian TV how the arsonists tried for 40 minutes to ignite the synagogue, first with a small amount of petrol, then bringing more.
Both attacks on the synagogue in Yerevan sparked a significant outcry. The president of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), one of Europe's largest rabbinical organizations, demanded that the Armenian authorities detain ASALA group members, outlaw the organization, and increase security for the Jewish community. The CER warned, "If there is no proper response and Jewish blood is spilt in the streets, the responsibility will be on the head of the Armenian government." Despite this, none of the perpetrators were detained. Israel's Ambassador to Armenia, Joel Lion, also called on the Armenian government to condemn all forms of anti-Semitism, thoroughly investigate the crime, and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Jerusalem Post, an Israeli English-language publication, labelled Armenia as "the most anti-Semitic country in the post-Soviet space," citing that 58 per cent of the population harbours anti-Jewish sentiments. This context highlights the dishonesty of Araik Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff of the Armenian Prime Minister's Office and Chairman of the Council for National Minorities of Armenia, who claimed that "an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect for national minorities reigns in Armenian society."
In contrast, Azerbaijan exemplifies true tolerance. The country hosts seven Jewish confessional communities, with functioning synagogues in Baku, Guba (the settlement of Krasnaya Sloboda), and Oguz. Baku is home to the largest synagogue in the entire Caucasus region. There has never been a single case of xenophobia or Judeophobia in Azerbaijan, where Jews have lived, continue to live, and will live happily.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Third Karabakh War becomes inevitable The region is on the brink of a major conflagration
22 June 2024 - 16:19
|
2
|
US diplomacy, the Zangazur corridor Balancing interests in the Caucasus
20 June 2024 - 15:14
|
3
|
Escalating tensions & prospect of war in the South Caucasus Can French arms supply reignite new regional war?
20 June 2024 - 15:53
|
4
|
Paris and Baku: A clash of interests & ideologies Historical context & rivalry origins
21 June 2024 - 17:26
|
5
|
Media: Iran prepares to triple enriched uranium production
20 June 2024 - 19:53
|
US Army plans deployment of over 1,000 Switchblade drones
Through Replicator initiative23 June 2024 - 06:30
French voters navigate snap election amid summer holidays
23 June 2024 - 04:23
Türkiye's interest in BRICS reflects strategy to broaden foreign policy
Not shift from West23 June 2024 - 02:20
EU tariffs on China not a "punishment", says German minister
23 June 2024 - 00:15
French election campaign targets billionaires amid taxation debate
22 June 2024 - 22:10
Challenges ahead for potential US-Saudi defence pact
22 June 2024 - 20:00
Azerbaijan to organise national park tours during COP29
22 June 2024 - 18:24
Ukraine set to sign detailed security guarantees agreement with EU
22 June 2024 - 18:12
Israel to announce defeat of Hamas' military wing
22 June 2024 - 18:00
Giving Slovak jets, air defence to Kyiv was sabotage
New government says22 June 2024 - 17:48
South Korea, Japan, US forge closer security alliance following Putin-Kim summit
22 June 2024 - 17:36
Iran overturns death penalty for rapper Toomaj Salehi
22 June 2024 - 17:24
German Air Force conducts precision bombing exercises in Alaska
22 June 2024 - 17:12
ASELSAN reveals advanced ground-based air defence system at Eurosatory 2024
PHOTO/VIDEO22 June 2024 - 17:00
Kazakhstan's priorities at COP29: Focus on green finance market & taxonomy
22 June 2024 - 16:48
Houthis unveil new deadly drone boat to help keep pressure on the Red Sea
22 June 2024 - 16:36
Haniyeh affirms Hamas' willingness to consider all initiatives
22 June 2024 - 16:24
Third Karabakh War becomes inevitable
The region is on the brink of a major conflagration22 June 2024 - 16:19
Azerbaijan assumes presidency of IOTA
Underscores growing international influence22 June 2024 - 16:12
China, France collaborate on the launch of cutting-edge astronomical satellite
22 June 2024 - 16:00
US assures Israel of support in potential conflict with Lebanon
22 June 2024 - 15:48
Lithuania's defence industry boosts European security amid Ukraine war
Caliber.Az on YouTube22 June 2024 - 15:36
Some 25 killed in strikes on camp near Rafah, Gaza ministry says
22 June 2024 - 15:24
Tunisian president sacks minister after the death of dozens on Hajj pilgrimage
22 June 2024 - 15:12
Britain's wealthiest family members sentenced to prison
For exploiting servants22 June 2024 - 15:00
French Senate's anti-Azerbaijani move backfires
“A sacred space is never empty”22 June 2024 - 14:46
Russian Su-35, US MQ-9 drones near collision over Syria
22 June 2024 - 14:30
Russia threatens retaliation if US closes visa centers, ends diplomatic tax privileges
22 June 2024 - 14:15
Armenia takes revenge on Israel by recognizing Palestinian state
Article by Ynet News22 June 2024 - 14:00
Venezuelan president accuses opposition of plotting coup ahead of election
22 June 2024 - 13:48
Azerbaijan's gas diversification: betting on Bulgarian industry
Caliber.Az review22 June 2024 - 13:33
New Zealand's Interislander ferry runs aground
PHOTO22 June 2024 - 13:18
Russian air forces neutralize five Ukrainian drones across different regions
22 June 2024 - 13:03
Japan's imperial couple leaves for Britain as state guests
22 June 2024 - 12:48
Azerbaijan's green energy share reaches 14% in electricity generation
22 June 2024 - 12:33
US assumes world gendarme role
Policing global dynamics22 June 2024 - 12:18
US policy allows Ukraine limited strikes on Russian targets
Amidst restrictions22 June 2024 - 12:03
Azerbaijani police seize cache of weapons in Khankandi
Furthering security measures22 June 2024 - 11:48
Boeing's Starliner return to Earth postponed
NASA says no new date set22 June 2024 - 11:33
USS Theodore Roosevelt arrives in Busan in show of force
22 June 2024 - 11:19