Baku hosts screening of “Mayotte: Island of Death” documentary Amid ongoing debate over French occupation

Baku's Nizami Cinema Centre was the venue for a powerful screening of the documentary film “Mayotte: Island of Death” on September 2.

The event drew notable attendees, including representatives from the Union of Comoros and delegates from the island of Mayotte, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The film, directed by Gulzar Mustafayeva, explores the contentious issue of Mayotte's occupation by France. It documents the historical context following the Comoros Islands' declaration of independence in 1975 and their subsequent admission to the United Nations. Despite international recognition of the Comoros' territorial integrity, France's annexation of Mayotte through controversial referendums remains a contentious issue.

Speakers at the screening included Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, Gulzar Mustafayeva, and Mohamed Toihiri, former Comoros Ambassador to the UN. They provided in-depth insights into the illegal occupation and its ramifications. 

The event was attended by experts, lawyers, civil society leaders from the Union of Comoros, and former ambassadors from various regions. The screening set the stage for further discussions, as Baku is set to host an international conference on the "Illegal Occupation of Mayotte Island by France" on September 3.