Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

The events in Khojaly are the most terrible act committed by Armenians against Azerbaijani people, said Mubariz Gurbanli, the Head of Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations.

Gurbanli announced about this at an event dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide at the Caucasus Muslims Office on February 21.

He stressed that those involved in this crime will be punished for their actions, and noted that the Armenians committed several genocides against Azerbaijanis.

“The world recognizes the Khojaly genocide. Our work in this direction continues. Christians, Jews and other communities stand in solidarity with the people of Azerbaijan,” he said.

Highlighting the strength of the Azerbaijani army, Gurbanli said that if not patrons of the Armenians, Azerbaijan would have already liberated its lands.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Associations and Religious Organizations Siyavush Novruzov, in turn, said that there are serious documents related to the Khojaly tragedy and noted that international organizations and the European Court of Human Rights should pay attention to the issue.

“Those who committed the Khojaly genocide, sooner or later will be punished, standing before the international court,” Novruzov said.

Besides, the Caucasus Muslims Office have sent an appeal to religious leaders, parliaments, international organizations and the European Court of Human Rights, urging them to give a principled political and legal assessment to acts of aggression and atrocities committed by Armenian extremists against the Azerbaijani people and to recognize the crimes committed in Khojaly as an act of genocide.

Khojaly, the second largest town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intense fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by the Armenian armed forces in 1992.

613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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