Baku Church in Fire
If until today state-sponsored destruction of Armenian material heritage in Azerbaijan has been the norm and the exception for Azerbaijan’s self-praised image of “tolerance” for minorities – such as Jews, Russians, and Catholics – the tolerant ambition of the mostly Muslim Republic is under threat as a fire intervened with the construction of a Catholic church in the capital city of Baku.
Via Nazarian, Azerbaijani media report:
Fire occurred in the Catholic Church “Saint Maryam” under construction in Baku today. Baku Catholic Church’s head Yan Chapla exclusively told APA that the explosive material thrown inside the church through the window caused the fire.
If until today anti-Christian (and anti anything) bigotry in Azerbaijan has been blamed on the conflict with the Armenians, the attack against the Catholic church seems a new development of Islamic circles in Azerbaijan that Azeri authorities have usually been in denial of.
This also challenges the uncontested notion that the cultural genocide against Armenian monuments in Azerbaijan, directed by or with the awareness of Azeri authorities, solely deals with ethnic conflict and is not anti-Christian.
phyek on 14 Apr 2007 at 12:48 am #
It’s interesting how such acts in Azerbaijan or Turkey are automatically blown out of proportion and pinned down on Azeri society (or the generic ‘Turks’) as a whole even before details are known. If I didn’t know better, I’d think that this is a regular occurrence…as if Azerbaijan is alone when it comes to bigotry and injustices. That’s more in response to ‘nazarians’ post though.
Anyway, while there are certainly many issues with minority and religious rights as well as deep nationalism in AZ, the small but growing fractions of Islamic extremists threaten the authorities and the way of life for ordinary Azeris. The Authorities are not in denial, as they arrest and prosecute Islamists every chance they get…perhaps the only thing they do right.