Baku marks international Holocaust remembrance event PHOTO

On January 27, an event titled “The Holocaust Through the Eyes of Contemporaries” was held in Baku.

It was jointly organised by the Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC), the Embassy of the State of Israel in the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the House of Tolerance, on the occasion of International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The event began with the performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, followed by a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

Delivering the opening remarks, BIMC adviser Professor Ayten Gahraman stated that the purpose of the event was to remind the audience of the historical essence of the Holocaust tragedy, to discuss contemporary perspectives on this crime against humanity, to draw attention to such dangerous trends as genocide, Islamophobia, antisemitism, hate speech, and xenophobia, and to emphasize the importance of preserving the values of tolerance, multiculturalism, and coexistence.

During the event, moderated by Rashad Ilyasov, Head of the Analytical Department of BIMC, the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Azerbaijan, Ronen Kraus, noted that the Holocaust, as one of the most horrific tragedies of the 20th century, also serves as a grave lesson for all humanity. According to him, the systematic extermination of six million Jews was directed not only against one people but also against universal human values. Remembrance of the Holocaust, the diplomat emphasised, is not merely a tribute to the past but also a responsibility to the future.

Acting UN Resident Coordinator Igor Garafullic stressed that the United Nations consistently combats antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and xenophobia at the global level. In this context, education, the preservation of historical memory, and the upbringing of the younger generation in the spirit of tolerance are of particular importance, as forgetting this tragedy may create conditions for the resurgence of ideologies of hatred.

Members of the Milli Majlis, Fazil Mustafa and Anatoly Rafailov, in turn, noted that preventing hate-based crimes and discrimination in the modern era should not be limited to moral appeals alone but must be accompanied by consistent and targeted state policy. It was emphasised that preserving ethnic and religious diversity in the Republic of Azerbaijan is an integral part of state policy, and the measures implemented in this direction contribute to strengthening social stability and mutual trust in society.

Other speakers — Chairman of the Baku Religious Community of Mountain Jews Milikh Yevdayev, Deputy Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Fuad Nurullayev, Rector of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology Agil Shirinov, Ordinary of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Roman Catholic Church in Azerbaijan Vladimir Fekete, and Chairman of the Baku Religious Community of European Jews Alexander Sharovsky — emphasized that the Holocaust vividly demonstrates the catastrophic consequences of religious, ethnic, and racial hatred. All religions promote the sanctity of human life, the values of mercy, justice, and mutual respect, which are fundamentally incompatible with violence, discrimination, and ideologies of hatred. In this context, it was noted that religious leaders play a special role in encouraging dialogue, mutual understanding, and peace in society.

The speakers highly praised the Azerbaijani model of a multicultural and tolerant society, noting that representatives of various religions and nationalities have lived in the country for centuries in an atmosphere of peace and mutual trust.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed annually on January 27. The corresponding resolution was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 1, 2005.

By Khagan Isayev