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BBC: Azeri writer Akram Aylisli hounded for `pro-Armenian' book
13:17 15.02.2013
Akram Aylisli, Armenia, Azerbaijan
His books have been publicly burnt. He has been stripped of his
national literary awards. And a high-ranking Azeri politician has
offered $13,000 as a bounty for anyone who will cut off his ear.
But 75-year-old Akram Aylisli, one of Azerbaijan's most eminent
authors, does not regret having written his short novel Stone Dreams,
the BBC writes.
The book has shocked many Azeris. But could it also prove the first
tentative step towards peace with the country's longstanding enemy
Armenia?
`I knew what I was writing. They say I offended the nation. But I
think quite the opposite: I think I have raised my nation up,' he told
the BBC by phone.
`I could predict they would be unhappy. But I could never have
predicted such horrors, such as calls for a writer to be killed, or
his book to be burnt. It is very sad that our nation is humiliating
itself in this way.'
A country that can burn books will not be respected by the rest of the world.
Akram Aylisli
The book describes Azerbaijan's conflict with neighbouring Armenia
through the 20th century. But it details the massacres of Armenians by
Azeris, portraying the tragedy of war from Armenia's perspective.
Even some of the book's critics, such as Azeri opposition activist
Murad Gassanly, condemn the persecution of its author.
`With the exception of ultra-liberal circles, very few people actually
liked the book or its message,' he explained.
`(But) the book burnings, street protests and calls for violence
against the author were orchestrated primarily by pro-government
circles.
`There is no freedom of assembly in Azerbaijan - it is impossible to
gather and collectively read books, let alone burn them! The fact that
these protests were allowed, protected by police and then shown on
national state TV suggests that they were orchestrated from the top.'
The BBC did not reach Azeri government officials could for comment.
President Ilham Aliyev himself signed the decree stripping Aylisli of
his national awards and monthly literary stipend.
Ruling party parliamentarians demanded he leave the country or that
his DNA be tested to see if he was really Azeri, and not in fact
Armenian. And high-ranking government officials called him a traitor,
saying `public hatred' was the correct response. Aylisli's wife and
son both lost their jobs in state-controlled institutions.
The calls for violence against Aylisli have sparked strong
condemnation from abroad.
Suddenly aware of the harmful effect a state-sanctioned bounty against
a writer could have on Azerbaijan's international image, on Wednesday,
after a warning from the government, the head of the Modern Musavat
party retracted his call for Aylisli's ear to be cut off.
Many analysts believe the vitriol against the author was an attempt by
the authorities to divert attention from a wave of anti-government
protests, which had swept the country in January.
`It's not unusual for the government to find a common enemy and unite
around it,' said Giorgi Gogia from Human Rights Watch. `And it's not
the first time that freedom of information and free speech are under
attack.'
`This book tackles the issue which needs to be discussed in society:
looking at the past,' says Mr Gogia, who believes Aylisli was
extremely brave by being the first high-profile Azeri author to show
sympathy towards victims from the other side.
`Freedom of speech applies not only to those ideas that are
favourable. But even more so to those that shock and offend,' he said.
`Peace can only be achieved by kindness, not with anger. With anger
you can never solve this issue,' said Aylisli.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/02/15/bbc-azeri-writer-akram-aylisli-hounded-for-pro-armenian-book/
13:17 15.02.2013
Akram Aylisli, Armenia, Azerbaijan
His books have been publicly burnt. He has been stripped of his
national literary awards. And a high-ranking Azeri politician has
offered $13,000 as a bounty for anyone who will cut off his ear.
But 75-year-old Akram Aylisli, one of Azerbaijan's most eminent
authors, does not regret having written his short novel Stone Dreams,
the BBC writes.
The book has shocked many Azeris. But could it also prove the first
tentative step towards peace with the country's longstanding enemy
Armenia?
`I knew what I was writing. They say I offended the nation. But I
think quite the opposite: I think I have raised my nation up,' he told
the BBC by phone.
`I could predict they would be unhappy. But I could never have
predicted such horrors, such as calls for a writer to be killed, or
his book to be burnt. It is very sad that our nation is humiliating
itself in this way.'
A country that can burn books will not be respected by the rest of the world.
Akram Aylisli
The book describes Azerbaijan's conflict with neighbouring Armenia
through the 20th century. But it details the massacres of Armenians by
Azeris, portraying the tragedy of war from Armenia's perspective.
Even some of the book's critics, such as Azeri opposition activist
Murad Gassanly, condemn the persecution of its author.
`With the exception of ultra-liberal circles, very few people actually
liked the book or its message,' he explained.
`(But) the book burnings, street protests and calls for violence
against the author were orchestrated primarily by pro-government
circles.
`There is no freedom of assembly in Azerbaijan - it is impossible to
gather and collectively read books, let alone burn them! The fact that
these protests were allowed, protected by police and then shown on
national state TV suggests that they were orchestrated from the top.'
The BBC did not reach Azeri government officials could for comment.
President Ilham Aliyev himself signed the decree stripping Aylisli of
his national awards and monthly literary stipend.
Ruling party parliamentarians demanded he leave the country or that
his DNA be tested to see if he was really Azeri, and not in fact
Armenian. And high-ranking government officials called him a traitor,
saying `public hatred' was the correct response. Aylisli's wife and
son both lost their jobs in state-controlled institutions.
The calls for violence against Aylisli have sparked strong
condemnation from abroad.
Suddenly aware of the harmful effect a state-sanctioned bounty against
a writer could have on Azerbaijan's international image, on Wednesday,
after a warning from the government, the head of the Modern Musavat
party retracted his call for Aylisli's ear to be cut off.
Many analysts believe the vitriol against the author was an attempt by
the authorities to divert attention from a wave of anti-government
protests, which had swept the country in January.
`It's not unusual for the government to find a common enemy and unite
around it,' said Giorgi Gogia from Human Rights Watch. `And it's not
the first time that freedom of information and free speech are under
attack.'
`This book tackles the issue which needs to be discussed in society:
looking at the past,' says Mr Gogia, who believes Aylisli was
extremely brave by being the first high-profile Azeri author to show
sympathy towards victims from the other side.
`Freedom of speech applies not only to those ideas that are
favourable. But even more so to those that shock and offend,' he said.
`Peace can only be achieved by kindness, not with anger. With anger
you can never solve this issue,' said Aylisli.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/02/15/bbc-azeri-writer-akram-aylisli-hounded-for-pro-armenian-book/