The facts show Azerbaijan has a history of anything but “interfaith harmony and tolerance” especially when it comes to its neighbor Armenia, a small Christian country facing constant threats of war and harassment from the Azerbaijani government and army, Rima Sarian, resident of Albuquerque city of New Mexico state writes in the American newspaper Albuquerque Journal.

“Armenia recently commemorated the 100th anniversary of the genocide of 1.5 million of its people by Ottoman Turks, and Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian rhetoric encourages another genocide against the native Armenian people of the Caucasus,” she mentions.

According to the author, despite lobbyists’ claims of Azerbaijan being a secular Muslim country, reality is it is no longer secular since its independence from the USSR in 1991.. “Pew Research Center says Azerbaijan is the world’s 13th most restrictive country on religious practice. International Christian Concern calls Azerbaijan “notorious for religion persecution,” Sarian writes.  

She illustrates the examples of the murder of the Armenian Army Lt. Gurgen Markaryan in Hungary, and what promotions in rank he received from the Azerbaijani president upon his return. Sarian also touches on the destruction of Armenian medieval hand-carved Christian cross-stones upon the order of Azerbaijani authorities.  

“Since Azerbaijan’s existence, it’s apparent its desire is to wipe the smaller ancient Christian country of Armenia off the map. It’s not just a crazy cleric saying this; it’s the official policy of the president who inaccurately proclaimed Armenia exists on Azerbaijan land when in fact, Azerbaijan did not even exist until 1918,” she writes.