Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Academic Association of Azerbaijan in Austria has held a rally on the 23rd anniversary of Khojaly genocide in St. Stephan’s Square in Vienna, Austria.

A tent in Stephan’s Square demonstrated books, brochures and other information materials narrating on the Khojaly genocide reflected the realities of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in different languages.

Members of student organizations holding a huge slogan with the words "Justice for Khojaly" drew the attention of people marching along the square as well as distributed information materials issued by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and sheets in German language among local residents.

Speaking to the guests, the active members of the community informed them that as a result of the aggressive policy of Armenia, more than one million Azerbaijanis were ousted from their homelands and became refugees and internally displaced persons, the historical roots of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan’s efforts to solve the conflict by peaceful means.

Screens installed in the square featured videos, photos and documentaries on Khojaly genocide.

Chanting the slogan “Light a Fire to Fight the Liar” launched under the “Justice for Khojaly” campaign the protestors handed the petition calling for the fight against the Armenian falsehoods.

In 1992, the town of Khojaly came under intense fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by the Armenian armed forces. 613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent.

Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, the fate of 150 of them remains unknown. Many civilians were shot at close range, scalped or burned alive.

Commemorating the victims of Khojaly tragedy with silence the protestors laid candles in memory of the martyrs in a square in front of the Parliament.

“Justice for Khojaly” International Awareness Campaign was initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-president of the Haydar Aliyev Foundation and the General Coordinator for Intercultural Dialogue of the ICYF-DC in 2009 and currently is being successfully implemented in over 50 countries worldwide.

As a result of the Campaign aiming at achieving political, legal and moral appraisal for the Khojaly tragedy on international level the Khojaly massacre recognized as a genocide and crime committed against humanity by the parliaments of the different countries as well as by the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of OIC member countries and the Parliamentary Unions of the Organization of Islamic Conference.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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