Baku:A presentation ceremony was held for the book "History of the Iravan Qaziliq," a joint effort by the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO) and the Western Azerbaijan Community, APA reports. The event gathered prominent figures, including the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Board of the Western Azerbaijan Community Aziz Alakbarli, President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Isa Habibbayli, and members of the Milli Majlis (Parliament).
According to Azeri-Press news agency, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade emphasized the priority of raising awareness about Western Azerbaijan as part of the Caucasus Muslims Office's mission. He expressed support for the policy of facilitating the return of compatriots deported from Armenia, aligning with state and public interests. The book, published in Azerbaijani and English, was highlighted as a significant contribution to these efforts, consisting of documentary materials aimed at presenting historical facts.
The book's content is based on documents from the archives of the Caucasus Muslims Office, as well as historical materials from the archives of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Russia. It was described as having substantial scientific and socio-political value, challenging what was presented as historical falsifications by the Armenian Church. The publication aims to promote international recognition of the realities of Western Azerbaijan and restore the spiritual rights of Azerbaijani compatriots.
Additionally, a video about the history of the Iravan Qaziliq was screened during the ceremony. Aziz Alakbarli discussed the historical challenges faced by Western Azerbaijan over the past two centuries, including aggression, ethnic cleansing, and the destruction of cultural heritage. He described the transformation of religious temples into Armenian Gregorian churches as a distortion of history.
Isa Habibbayli, President of ANAS, emphasized that the book serves as evidence supporting the Azerbaijani claim to the Iravan region, portraying it as Azerbaijani land. He highlighted the book's role in strengthening the ideology of Azerbaijanism and enhancing the understanding of Azerbaijan's cultural and historical heritage.