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>From "Stone Dreams" To Hard Reality: Akram Aylisli's Novel On Azeri-Armenian Relations Continues Stirring Threats And Hatred In Azerbaijan
KARABAKH | 13.02.13 | 10:33
Photo: Azadlıq Radiosu (RFE/RL)
By JULIA HAKOBYAN
ArmeniaNow Deputy Editor
The Human Right Watch released a statement on Tuesday demanding
from Azerbaijani authorities to immediately stop the harassment and
persecution campaign toward Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli, whose
novel "Stone Dreams" on Azeri- Armenian relations has caused a flurry
of anger in Azerbaijan.
The New-York based organization expressed concerns over the hateful
campaign, which started early this year by a series of protests
in several Azerbaijani cities as burning of Aylisli's books and
portraits culminated in a call by a political party to reward (with
about $12,000) anyone who would cut off the writer's ear.
"The government of Azerbaijan is making a mockery of its international
obligations on freedom of expression," said Hugh Williamson, Europe
and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "This is shocking,
particularly after Azerbaijani officials flocked to Strasbourg last
month to tout the government's human rights record at the Council
of Europe."
"The Azerbaijani authorities have an obligation to protect Akram
Aylisli. Instead, they have led the effort to intimidate him, putting
him at risk with a campaign of vicious smears and hostile rhetoric,"
said Williamson, calling Azerbaijan's authorities to investigate and
hold accountable anyone responsible for making threats against Aylisli,
and ensure his personal safety.
Until recently, the 75-year-old Aylisli was a respected figure in
Azerbaijan, and a member of the Writers Union who was honored with the
several awards and prizes and enjoyed a presidential monthly pension
of $1,270. Aylisli is author of novels as well as a translator of
many well known authors, including those by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
The hateful rhetoric against Aylisli started early in January, soon
after his novel was published in a Russian-language journal "Friendship
of People". "Stone Dreams" tells the story of two Azerbaijani men and
their efforts to protect their Armenian neighbors during the Sumgait
and Baku pogroms in the closing years of the Soviet Union. (The novel
also includes a description of violence by ethnic Azeris against
Armenians during the 1920s.)
Aylisli said he saw his novel as an appeal for friendship between
the two nations, where there is no innocent and guilty, but a tragedy
of two peoples. "My novel is not political, but I am against forcing
unhealthy relations between nations."
However, his pacifist standpoint and sympathetic portrayal of Armenians
did not find understanding in Azerbaijan, which fought and lost in
a war over Nagorno Karabakh in the early 1990s and where many are
brought up on anti-Armenian sentiments since childhood.
Last week, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree stripping Aylisli
of the title of "People's Writer", which he had held since 1998, and
cutting off his presidential pension which he had drawn since 2002;
a week earlier Aylisli's wife and son were fired from their jobs.
The book has stirred protests in Baku, and one Azeri lawmaker
suggested that Aylisli have his DNA tested, to determine whether he
is of Armenian origin. Another lawmaker said that the novel "insulted
not only Azerbaijanis, but the whole Turkish nation," referring to
the Ottoman Empire's historical persecution of Armenians.
Meanwhile Turkish and Armenian intellectuals have recently issued
support messages for Aylisli calling Azerbaijani authorities to stop
manifesting hatred to the writer.
Levon Ananyan, chairman of Armenia's Union of Writers, said Aylisli's
novel clearly shows that a patriot cannot remain silent in the face
of the truth.
"When true intellectuals and true writers defend truths, it does not
mean that they don't love their country," Ananyan said. "Kudos to
our Azerbaijani colleague. He is that brave man who blazes the trail,
the trail that leads to repentance through truth."
Ragıp Zarakolu, prominent human rights activist in Turkey, released
an announcement titled "Defend Azerbaijani Conscience". "No matter
what you call honest people with conscience, they are the real pride
of a country. Currently, the life of Azerbaijan's pride, Aylisli,
is under a severe threat. Even though some Western countries and
Russia invited him, Aylisli displayed an honorable posture and rejected
leaving his homeland. In order to prevent another murder resembling the
assassination of Hrant Dink, I call the international public and the
democrats of Turkey and Azerbaijan to active solidarity with Aylisli,"
said Zarakolu cited by the Hurriyet Daily News.
"I was accused of a one-sided position," Aylisli said. "But there are
many good Azerbaijanis in my novel, lovely people, like Dr. Farzaneh.
The action of such people, like Farzaneh suggest that our nation is
moral and kind."
The author says that his persecution is an abnormal phenomenon. He
said Azerbaijani ordinary citizens say they can live together with
the Armenians, but the authorities advocated for the hatred.
Head of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Political Department
Ali Hasanov said that Aylisli's purpose is to get a Nobel Prize and
compared him with Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish novelist, 2006 Nobel Prize
Laureate in Literature, who in 2005 made a statement regarding the
Armenian Genocide and mass killing of Kurds in the Ottoman Empire.
Pamuk's statements on the Armenian genocide resulted in 7 year long
persecution process and criminal charges.
"Orhan Pamuk was condemned by his people and was forced to leave the
country when he expressed such an opinion that 'Turks must recognize
the Armenian genocide'. What was the purpose? It was done only to
get a prize. Is it worth receiving this award when your people,
your nation, abandon you?"
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
KARABAKH | 13.02.13 | 10:33
Photo: Azadlıq Radiosu (RFE/RL)
By JULIA HAKOBYAN
ArmeniaNow Deputy Editor
The Human Right Watch released a statement on Tuesday demanding
from Azerbaijani authorities to immediately stop the harassment and
persecution campaign toward Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli, whose
novel "Stone Dreams" on Azeri- Armenian relations has caused a flurry
of anger in Azerbaijan.
The New-York based organization expressed concerns over the hateful
campaign, which started early this year by a series of protests
in several Azerbaijani cities as burning of Aylisli's books and
portraits culminated in a call by a political party to reward (with
about $12,000) anyone who would cut off the writer's ear.
"The government of Azerbaijan is making a mockery of its international
obligations on freedom of expression," said Hugh Williamson, Europe
and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "This is shocking,
particularly after Azerbaijani officials flocked to Strasbourg last
month to tout the government's human rights record at the Council
of Europe."
"The Azerbaijani authorities have an obligation to protect Akram
Aylisli. Instead, they have led the effort to intimidate him, putting
him at risk with a campaign of vicious smears and hostile rhetoric,"
said Williamson, calling Azerbaijan's authorities to investigate and
hold accountable anyone responsible for making threats against Aylisli,
and ensure his personal safety.
Until recently, the 75-year-old Aylisli was a respected figure in
Azerbaijan, and a member of the Writers Union who was honored with the
several awards and prizes and enjoyed a presidential monthly pension
of $1,270. Aylisli is author of novels as well as a translator of
many well known authors, including those by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
The hateful rhetoric against Aylisli started early in January, soon
after his novel was published in a Russian-language journal "Friendship
of People". "Stone Dreams" tells the story of two Azerbaijani men and
their efforts to protect their Armenian neighbors during the Sumgait
and Baku pogroms in the closing years of the Soviet Union. (The novel
also includes a description of violence by ethnic Azeris against
Armenians during the 1920s.)
Aylisli said he saw his novel as an appeal for friendship between
the two nations, where there is no innocent and guilty, but a tragedy
of two peoples. "My novel is not political, but I am against forcing
unhealthy relations between nations."
However, his pacifist standpoint and sympathetic portrayal of Armenians
did not find understanding in Azerbaijan, which fought and lost in
a war over Nagorno Karabakh in the early 1990s and where many are
brought up on anti-Armenian sentiments since childhood.
Last week, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree stripping Aylisli
of the title of "People's Writer", which he had held since 1998, and
cutting off his presidential pension which he had drawn since 2002;
a week earlier Aylisli's wife and son were fired from their jobs.
The book has stirred protests in Baku, and one Azeri lawmaker
suggested that Aylisli have his DNA tested, to determine whether he
is of Armenian origin. Another lawmaker said that the novel "insulted
not only Azerbaijanis, but the whole Turkish nation," referring to
the Ottoman Empire's historical persecution of Armenians.
Meanwhile Turkish and Armenian intellectuals have recently issued
support messages for Aylisli calling Azerbaijani authorities to stop
manifesting hatred to the writer.
Levon Ananyan, chairman of Armenia's Union of Writers, said Aylisli's
novel clearly shows that a patriot cannot remain silent in the face
of the truth.
"When true intellectuals and true writers defend truths, it does not
mean that they don't love their country," Ananyan said. "Kudos to
our Azerbaijani colleague. He is that brave man who blazes the trail,
the trail that leads to repentance through truth."
Ragıp Zarakolu, prominent human rights activist in Turkey, released
an announcement titled "Defend Azerbaijani Conscience". "No matter
what you call honest people with conscience, they are the real pride
of a country. Currently, the life of Azerbaijan's pride, Aylisli,
is under a severe threat. Even though some Western countries and
Russia invited him, Aylisli displayed an honorable posture and rejected
leaving his homeland. In order to prevent another murder resembling the
assassination of Hrant Dink, I call the international public and the
democrats of Turkey and Azerbaijan to active solidarity with Aylisli,"
said Zarakolu cited by the Hurriyet Daily News.
"I was accused of a one-sided position," Aylisli said. "But there are
many good Azerbaijanis in my novel, lovely people, like Dr. Farzaneh.
The action of such people, like Farzaneh suggest that our nation is
moral and kind."
The author says that his persecution is an abnormal phenomenon. He
said Azerbaijani ordinary citizens say they can live together with
the Armenians, but the authorities advocated for the hatred.
Head of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration's Political Department
Ali Hasanov said that Aylisli's purpose is to get a Nobel Prize and
compared him with Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish novelist, 2006 Nobel Prize
Laureate in Literature, who in 2005 made a statement regarding the
Armenian Genocide and mass killing of Kurds in the Ottoman Empire.
Pamuk's statements on the Armenian genocide resulted in 7 year long
persecution process and criminal charges.
"Orhan Pamuk was condemned by his people and was forced to leave the
country when he expressed such an opinion that 'Turks must recognize
the Armenian genocide'. What was the purpose? It was done only to
get a prize. Is it worth receiving this award when your people,
your nation, abandon you?"
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress