New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's false narratives against Azerbaijan in his April 24 post regarding the "Armenian genocide" were met with protests by Azerbaijani communities, religious organizations, and organizations friendly to our country operating in various countries.
Modern.az reports that the Baku Sephardic Jewish community issued a statement regarding Zohran Mamdani's anti-Azerbaijani statements. The statement was shared by Zamir Isayev, chairman of the Baku Sephardic Jewish community, on his "X" account.
The statement notes that the community strongly rejects Mamdani's recent statements and considers these views irresponsible. It is stated that the elected public official's presentation of Azerbaijan's actions in 2020 and 2023 as a "genocide campaign" is a distortion of reality, and is false and provocative.
The document emphasizes that Karabakh is internationally recognized as an integral part of Azerbaijan. It is noted that the events of 2020 were directed not against the ethnic population, but against armed separatist forces supported from abroad, which resulted in the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. At the same time, it is stated that in 2023, Azerbaijan restored its constitutional order by neutralizing illegal armed groups on its territory.
The statement also recalls that Azerbaijan has repeatedly declared that the rights and security of Armenian residents living in Karabakh will be ensured.
According to the community, Azerbaijani Jews know well the importance of truth, memory, and responsibility from history. It is noted that the Jewish community in the country has lived in peace and mutual respect with Muslims and Christians for centuries.
The statement strongly rejects attempts to equate the restoration of Azerbaijan's sovereignty with "genocide" and emphasizes that the distortion of this concept for political purposes is unacceptable.
The document also notes that such accusations distort the reality of the conflict and do not take into account the suffering of more than 800,000 Azerbaijanis who have been displaced from their native lands for decades.
The community states that such statements are particularly unacceptable at a sensitive time when significant progress is being made towards peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is emphasized that public figures should promote reconciliation, dialogue, and trust, not increase hostility.
Also, the "AZIZ" Association and Azerbaijani communities living in the USA and other countries have launched a campaign to collect signatures for an open letter addressed to the Mayor of New York.
It is noted that the open letter is addressed to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and was prepared after his statement on April 24, 2026. It is emphasized that in that statement, Azerbaijanis were accused of "continuing the Armenian genocide".
The open letter states that such statements present the conflict in the South Caucasus in a one-sided and, in some respects, misleading way, and also do not reflect the full extent of the losses suffered by the Azerbaijani civilian population. The authors believe that at a time when steps are being taken towards the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, such statements can negatively affect the diplomatic process.
The letter also recalls the mass displacement of Azerbaijani civilians, the destruction of settlements and infrastructure, as well as the Khojaly tragedy that occurred in February 1992 during the First Karabakh War.
In addition, it is noted that during the Second Karabakh War, the cities of Ganja, Barda, and Tartar were subjected to missile and artillery fire, civilians were killed, and infrastructure was damaged. It is stated that these events have been documented by international media and organizations.
Finally, the New York Mayor is called upon to withdraw his statements and refrain from one-sided statements in the future. Readers are invited to join the petition if they support this position.
In protest against the New York Mayor's statement, Tirat Karmel, head of the Sholumi Center operating in Israel, also issued a statement.
The statement notes that the center principally condemns acts of violence against all peoples, but considers it unacceptable to include misinformation that distorts historical and modern realities in public discussions.
The document states that the mayor's remarks on April 24, 2026, regarding the events in the South Caucasus are incorrect both factually and legally. It is noted that presenting the anti-terrorist measures carried out in 2023 as "genocide" is not in accordance with international law and distorts the essence of this concept.
The statement also touches upon the measures taken in the context of the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and emphasizes that the country's leadership has repeatedly declared its intention to ensure the rights of the Armenian population living in the region.
The Sholum Center also criticizes the failure to take into account acts of violence committed against Azerbaijani civilians, including the Khojaly tragedy, during the First Karabakh War. It is stated that presenting such events with a selective approach hinders an objective assessment of the conflict.
The document also draws attention to the facts of missile and artillery shelling of Azerbaijani cities, civilian casualties, and destruction of infrastructure during the Second Karabakh War.
The authors of the statement believe that such one-sided approaches harm the peace and normalization process in the region, and also create anxiety among Azerbaijani communities living in various countries.
Finally, it is emphasized that discussions about the conflict should be based on balanced and factual assessments, not emotional approaches.
