Mutual accusations voiced in recent days regarding Turkey-Azerbaijan relations and discussions about a unified school uniform in Azerbaijan are on the agenda. In particular, disputes arising around unified dress codes in schools are also discussed on Turkish social networks. Facts are manipulated and conveyed. In addition, the front of our Consulates General and embassies located in the brotherly country is also turning into a field of provocations.
In a statement to Modern.az, Nasib Mahamaliyev, a member of the Azerbaijan-Turkey interparliamentary working group of the Milli Majlis, stated that the voicing of mutual accusations regarding Turkey-Azerbaijan relations against the background of recent events causes serious regret:
“First of all, the sharing of a status against Azerbaijan by the chief advisor to the President of Turkey is an act unbecoming of a public official. Issues related to interstate relations should be resolved through diplomatic channels, through dialogue. It is unacceptable for a public official to interfere in the internal affairs of another state through social networks. In this regard, that sharing rightfully caused tension in the Azerbaijani public. I believe that in the near future, a dialogue will take place between the heads of state of both countries - President Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan - and the tension will be eliminated.”
The deputy noted that issues are exaggerated and unfounded information is spread in Turkey. According to him, there is no hijab ban in Azerbaijan, and veiled women can be seen in public places in various regions of the country:
“Here, the discussion is only about the implementation of a unified school uniform in schools. There is a relevant decision of the Cabinet of Ministers in this regard. Azerbaijan is a legal, democratic state and is governed by laws. If someone in Turkey, Iran or other countries believes that Azerbaijan should make decisions not according to laws in accordance with the Azerbaijani Constitution, but according to the wishes of individuals or religious sects, they should know that such an approach can lead to chaos.”
N. Mahamaliyev emphasized that religious radicalization and attempts to interfere in the country's internal processes from abroad are serious issues from the perspective of national security. He stated that the protection of Azerbaijan's secular state structure is of particular importance:
“When we look at the path we have taken since the 1990s, we see that due to objective reasons such as the occupation of our lands and the presence of one million refugees and internally displaced persons, the missionary activities of some countries under the guise of humanitarian aid have been overlooked. However, concrete statistics show that the involvement of veiled women, and even children, in these processes is gradually expanding. Some global powers and sectarian centers influencing under the guise of religious activity in the region can use these processes against Azerbaijani statehood. It's not just about someone bringing children to the front of the school. The issue is related to national security, the protection of the constitutional structure of a secular state. We cannot allow this.”
According to the deputy, the results of conflicts occurring on the basis of religious radicalism and sectarianism are also visible in the experience of other Muslim countries.
He stated that discussions related to religious groups operating in Turkey should also be kept in focus:
“What is happening in Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq should be a serious warning for us. We do not see any examples showing that radical groups operating under the name of Islam and sectarian conflicts have yielded positive results. There are also issues related to the activities of religious sects in Turkey itself. If this area is not given enough attention, the influence of these groups can expand and become a serious threat in the future.”
N. Mahamaliyev added that Azerbaijan's development as a secular state is important from the perspective of protecting national interests. According to him, the country's enlightenment traditions and the legacy of prominent intellectuals are of great importance in this matter:
“We must read the works of Mirza Fatali Akhundzade, Hasan bey Zardabi, Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Ahmad bey Agaoglu, and the intellectuals of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic period, and study the era in which they lived. We cannot raise our children based on religious propaganda that is inconsistent with reality. Azerbaijan must develop as a secular, modern, and cultural state.”
The deputy stated that the recent events may also be related to international and regional processes.
He believes that Azerbaijan's restoration of territorial integrity and its strategic alliance with Turkey may be considered an undesirable factor by some forces:
“There are forces that cannot digest our historical victory and do not want to reconcile with the liberation of our lands. Azerbaijan eradicated separatism and put an end to terrorism in its territory. On the other hand, the strengthening of Turkey and Azerbaijan and the integration of the Turkic world also concern certain forces. Azerbaijan plays the role of a bridge between Turkey and the Turkic world. We must be vigilant against processes aimed at preventing this integration.”
N. Mahamaliyev concluded by stating that the Azerbaijani people should unite as one fist around the president in the interests of statehood and support the protection of the country's secular structure and national security.
