A meeting dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the January 20th tragedy was held at the Caucasus Muslims Board (CMB) on January 18.

Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the CMB, Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, said, "Today, on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the Bloody January tragedy, which is inscribed in the historical memory of the Azerbaijani people as a source of deep sorrow, but at the same time, national pride, spiritual honor, and a heroic chronicle for state independence, we commemorate the blessed souls of the first victims of the struggle for our independence and territorial integrity in the recent history of Azerbaijan – the martyrs of January 20th. May the Almighty Creator have mercy on the children of the Motherland who reached the peak of martyrdom, which is considered one of the highest ranks in His sight!"

Sheikhulislam A. Pashazade then assessed the January 20th events as a day of moral elevation and fortitude for the Azerbaijani people, and a symbolic event that entered the history of the 20th century as an unparalleled example of the eternal struggle between good and evil, justice and oppression, light and darkness, freedom and subjugation. He noted that the military aggression carried out by the former Soviet Army against the Azerbaijani people on that day will remain in history as one of the gravest crimes committed against humanity. Calling the events of January 20, 1990, a pre-planned plot against our people by an undignified head of state like Gorbachev, who had become a puppet in the hands of those living with the fantasy of "Great Armenia," the CMB Chairman spoke about a terrifying chasm that opened up between the people and the state on the night of January 19-20, 1990, when the Soviet troops entered Baku and carried out a bloody massacre with particular cruelty and unprecedented savagery against their own citizens—the elderly, women, children, Azerbaijanis, Russians, Jews—in a word, the civilian population—at a time when all political and administrative bodies of the state were paralyzed, having fled and hidden out of incompetence. He touched upon the issue of the Center attempting to give the events a religious guise, taking advantage of the situation at a moment when the Azerbaijani people had lost faith in the state and the godless communist ideology and did not know who to turn to, presenting our people's struggle against despotism to the world community as Islamic fundamentalism and extremism.

He spoke with facts about how, during those days when the fate, and even the existence on the map, of Azerbaijan was in danger, the Caucasus Muslims Board, which was working and operating in the country, defying the aggressors, and which was the sole source of hope for thousands of tragedy victims and millions of citizens, was turned into a headquarters from the very first minute of the events, challenging the hypocrisy of the imperial policy with all its might, breaking through the information blockade, and declaring what was happening to the world: "Despite the declaration of a state of emergency, tens of thousands of people gathered in the courtyard of the Taza Pir mosque on January 21. Despite the military commandant's strong objection to the matter of selecting a burial place for the martyrs, there was insistence on choosing Highland Park. Despite the threats and intimidations of the military regime, on January 22, we led a crowd of millions, unseen in history, stood at the forefront of the funeral ceremony, and for the first time, cursed the godless Soviet regime with the phrase 'vile empire.' Not a single soldier was allowed to participate or interfere in the burial process. At a time when all information agencies in the country were under control, we were able, with great difficulty, to address appeals to the UN Secretary-General, world heads of state, and religious leaders, and send our statement full of curses to the USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev. We met with the correspondent of the Italian newspaper 'Repubblica,' Enzo Mauro, and conveyed the truth about the crimes committed in Baku to the then-Pope John Paul II. It was thanks to our ability to break the information blockade that the January 20th tragedy spread across the world, and rallies in support of our people were held in Istanbul, Derbent, Georgia, and several Arab and European states. Furthermore, despite the objections of a number of official figures in the first days, we achieved the recognition of all victims of the January 20th tragedy as sacred martyrs and the adoption of the term 'martyr'."

Sheikhulislam A. Pashazade specifically highlighted the support of the National Leader for our people during that tragedy. "In this struggle, we were in great need of moral support, a guiding leader, and a person who would light up the darkness. The first telegram of condolence received at the address of the Caucasus Muslims Board during those days came from Moscow, from our National Leader, the late Heydar Aliyev. This great man, whose heart always beat with his people, assessed the events as aggression against Azerbaijan. Heydar Aliyev, who had been removed from the Politburo by chauvinist Armenians and pro-Armenian political forces acting at their instigation, together with Ilham Aliyev, the successor of his political path, came to the Permanent Representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow, resolutely condemned the events, and demonstrated his solidarity with his native people. It was only after the return of the National Leader to power that the January 20th events received a political assessment and were evaluated as an act of military aggression committed by the USSR state against the Azerbaijani people."

Sheikhulislam A. Pashazade recalled that during these years, Azerbaijan's religious center has constantly appealed to the world community, parliaments, and governments, exposing the crimes of those who committed acts against the Azerbaijani people and ordered the murder of innocent people, and insisting on the international assessment of their crimes.

Sheikhulislam A. Pashazade touched upon the points that bring joy to the souls of the January 20th martyrs: "The martyrs of the struggle for the Motherland's lands occupied by Armenian fascists—the First Karabakh War, the April Battles, the Patriotic War—are the continuators of the high moral path of the January 20th martyrs. The main factors that gladden the sacred souls of our martyrs are our Karabakh Victory, the eternity of our independence, the increasing power of our statehood, the progress of our Motherland, and the happiness of our people. The Azerbaijani people, who declared their independence in 1991, put an end to the threats to our territorial integrity with the 44-day Patriotic War. Under the leadership of our Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, the valiant Azerbaijani Army, with the help of the Almighty Creator, fulfilled the honorable mission of restoring our territorial integrity that international law could not ensure, and raised the Azerbaijani Flag in our ancestral lands. Martyrs are an example of self-sacrifice for all humanity. We note with gratitude the high respect of the Head of State and our country's First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the memory of the martyrs, and their close attention and care for the martyrs' families."

It was stated that we recommend all our religious figures, Qazis, and authorized representatives organize special religious ceremonies dedicated to the memory of the tragedy victims during the commemoration period of the January 20th events—the day of the Azerbaijani people's moral elevation and fortitude. The memory of the January 20th martyrs and all martyrs of the Motherland should be honored.

Sheikhulislam A. Pashazade spoke about the visible manifestations of the increasing anger and rage of those who envy us as the political and economic successes of Azerbaijan, which has restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty, grow: "While this manifests itself in various forms—through biased reports, false accusations, and threats of sanctions by those hiding behind the curtain of democracy—it is also demonstrated through the ravings from the mouth of a religious figure in a neighboring country. The continuous slander and insults directed at the President of the sovereign Azerbaijani state, as well as the President of the Republic of Türkiye, strike a blow to the development of mutual relations that should serve peace, progress, and prosperity in the region. The duty of a religious figure is to convey the commands of the Almighty God to people with wisdom and advice. A religious figure who respects himself would not allow such words to be used from the pulpit, or such expressions to be voiced during his sermon. We strongly condemn and consider unacceptable the irresponsible and excessive speeches of Amuli, the Imam-Juma of the Azerbaijani city of Ardabil, which undermine the historical ties between Azerbaijan and Iran and pit our peoples against each other. Amuli's speeches in this vein are not a first, and we have expressed our harsh reaction to them in due time. An end must be put to the rambling speeches of a religious figure who did not condemn Armenian vandalism against Muslim religious monuments in Karabakh and on the territory of Armenia, and did not express any reaction to the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijani co-religionists, but who now slanders and insults the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Türkiye, targeting them. We believe that such provocative speeches should not go unpunished."

The CMB Chairman proudly emphasized the unparalleled restoration and reconstruction work carried out by our victorious state in our liberated lands, the return of our citizens to their native homes, the rising calls to prayer (Azan) from our mosques that have been given a new life, and the presence of our imams at the head of their duties, talking about how our victory in the Patriotic War paved the way for our moral victories. Speaking about the destructive actions of the Armenian Church towards revanchism, he stated: "The most fundamental desire of our people, who are engaged in peaceful construction work, is peace and tranquility in our region. Our state is also making efforts towards lasting peace in the region. However, as is known, the Armenian Church was at the forefront of the Armenian aggression in its time, and is now at the forefront of revanchism after our Victory in the Patriotic War. Following the 44-day Patriotic War and the anti-terror operation in 2023, anti-Azerbaijan propaganda has again intensified by the Etchmiadzin and Cilicia Armenian Churches. Unfortunately, the Armenian Church is insistent on dragging its people not to peaceful coexistence, but to new tragedies. With all our efforts and prayers, we support the activities—the wise policy of our state—towards peace, tranquility, peaceful neighborhood, and prosperity in the country and the region. May our Motherland, for which the January 20th martyrs and all martyrs of the Motherland sacrificed their lives, always be exalted! May the Almighty God protect our people, our state, and our wise Head of State, and preserve the world! Amen!"

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sahib Naghiyev; the Director of the State Agency for Work with Religious Associations of the Nakhchivan AR, Vugar Babayev; and the heads of religious confessions in Azerbaijan—Bishop Alexiy, Head of the Baku and Azerbaijan Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church; Melikh Yevdayev, Head of the Mountain Jews Community; Bishop Vladimir Fekete, Ordinary of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Roman Catholic Church in Azerbaijan; Alexander Sharovski, Chairman of the European Jews Community; and Robert Mobili, Chairman of the Albanian-Udi Christian Religious Community—who delivered speeches and shared their views on the place and role of the January 20th tragedy in the history of Azerbaijan.

CMB Press Service