Baku hosts event titled “The Holocaust genocide through the eyes of contemporaries” - PHOTO

On January 27, an event titled “The Holocaust genocide through the eyes of contemporaries,” dedicated to International Holocaust Remembrance Day, was held jointly by the Baku International Multiculturalism Center, the Embassy of the State of Israel in Azerbaijan, and the Tolerance House. The event was attended by ambassadors of foreign countries accredited in Azerbaijan, representatives of international organizations, members of the Milli Majlis, leaders of ethnic and religious communities, and public figures.

According to information provided to The Daily Baku by the press service of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center, the event began with the playing 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, BBMC adviser Professor Ayten Gahraman stated that the purpose of the event was to recall the historical essence of the Holocaust tragedy, discuss contemporary perspectives on this crime against humanity, draw attention to dangerous trends such as genocide, Islamophobia, antisemitism, hate speech, and xenophobia, and emphasize the importance of preserving the values of tolerance, multiculturalism, and peaceful coexistence.

The event continued under the moderation of Rashad Ilyasov, Head of the Analytics Department of the BBMC. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel, Ronen Krausz, noted that the Holocaust is not only one of the most horrific tragedies of the twentieth century, but also a profound lesson for all humanity. He emphasized that the systematic extermination of six million Jews targeted not only one people, but universal human values as a whole. The ambassador stressed that remembering the Holocaust is not merely paying tribute to the past, but also a responsibility toward the future.

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

Members of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Fazil Mustafa and Anatoliy Rafailov, noted that in the modern era, preventing hate-based crimes and discrimination should not be limited to moral appeals alone, but must be accompanied by consistent and purposeful state policy. They подчеркнули that the protection of ethnic and religious diversity is an integral part of state policy in Azerbaijan, and that measures implemented in this direction serve to strengthen social stability and mutual trust in society.

Other speakers, including Milikh Yevdayev, Chairman of the Baku Mountain Jews Religious Community; Fuad Nurullayev, Deputy Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board; Aqil Shirinov, Rector of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology; Vladimir Fekete, Ordinary of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Roman Catholic Church in Azerbaijan; and Aleksandr Sharovsky, Chairman of the European Jews Religious Community of Baku, emphasized that the tragedy clearly demonstrates the catastrophic consequences of religious, ethnic, and racial hatred. All religions promote the sanctity of human life and the values of compassion, justice, and mutual respect, which are fundamentally incompatible with violence, discrimination, and ideologies of hatred. In this regard, the special role of religious leaders in promoting dialogue, mutual understanding, and peace in society was highlighted.

The speakers highly praised Azerbaijan’s model of a multicultural and tolerant society, noting that representatives of different religions and nationalities have lived in peace and harmony in the country for centuries.

It should be noted that, in accordance with a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 1, 2005, January 27 is observed each year as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.