Khojaly Genocide Commemorated at our University
As Haydar Aliyev Center for Eurasian Studies, we hosted the commemoration program organized in our university to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the Khojaly Genocide. On February 26, 1992, we came together with the participation of academics, students and protocol members in order not to forget this painful event in the town of Khojaly in Azerbaijan and to make it more known in the international arena.
Our commemoration program was held at Ibn Haldun University Student Center Event Hall. Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Rector Prof. Dr. Atilla Arıkan, Consul General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Istanbul Narmina Mustafayeva, academics, students and members of the press attended the program.
Opening Ceremony and Exhibition
The program started with the visit of the photo exhibition on the Khojaly Genocide. The program continued with the recitation of the Holy Quran, a moment of silence and the national anthems of Turkey and Azerbaijan. The program ended with protocol speeches and a souvenir photo session.
Protocol Speeches
Consul General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Istanbul Narmina Mustafayeva stated in her speech that the genocide in Khojaly left a great wound not only in Azerbaijan but also in the conscience of all humanity. She stated that 18 countries recognized this tragic event as genocide, but powerful states remained indifferent to this recognition. Mustafayeva reiterated her call for “Justice for Khojaly!” and emphasized that the memory of the martyrs should be kept alive not only to mourn but also to continue the search for justice.
In his speech, Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees, drew attention to the struggle to determine whether the justice of the just or the powerful will prevail. Stating that the Turkish and Islamic world should be in solidarity, Erdoğan also touched upon the double standards of the West. Reminding the crimes against humanity in Srebrenica and Palestine along with Khojaly, he said, “It should be fought to ensure that such sufferings are not forgotten and not repeated.”
In his speech, Rector Prof. Dr. Atilla Arkan emphasized the principle of “Azerbaijan and Turkey, two states, one nation” and drew attention to the intellectual responsibilities of the academic world in order not to forget such historical events.
Struggle for Justice for Khojaly
The photo exhibition “Khojaly Genocide in its 33rd Year” opened within the scope of the event revealed the human tragedy in Khojaly. At the end of the program, the participants visited the exhibition and examined the photographs documenting the genocide. Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Bilal Erdoğan once again emphasized the importance of the unity and solidarity of the Turkish and Islamic world. On the occasion of this commemoration, we once again remembered our responsibilities to ensure that Khojaly is not forgotten and the truth is made known to the world.
