BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 13.
The New Azerbaijan Party expressed regret over remarks by Oktay
Saral, Chief Advisor to the President of Türkiye, and Members of
Parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on
the hijab issue.
This was stated in a statement by the Press Service of the “New
Azerbaijan” Party (NAP) in response to remarks made by Oktay Saral,
chief advisor to the President of Türkiye, and members of the
ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) regarding
Azerbaijan.
“It’s deeply regrettable that Oktay Saral, Chief Advisor to the
President of Türkiye and a Member of Parliament from the ruling
Justice and Development Party, has made a populist and
irresponsible remark without considering the essence of the matter,
Azerbaijan's constitutional order, and the legal foundations of
religious freedom in our country. Such statements run counter to
the spirit of the fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and
Türkiye and could serve to create artificial tension in the public
sphere,” the statement said.
According to the statement, for a long time, several Turkish
media outlets and social media platforms, including information
resources known to be close to the ruling AKP, have been spreading
false, biased, defamatory and slanderous information about
Azerbaijan.
"Taking into account the partnership existing between the New
Azerbaijan Party and the Justice and Development Party, as well as
the historic bonds of brotherhood and friendship uniting the
peoples of Azerbaijan and Türkiye, we have hitherto exercised
restraint regarding such incidents. We have aimed to prevent the
irresponsible behavior of certain circles from negatively affecting
the relations between our states and peoples.
However, the fact that this information campaign directed
against Azerbaijan has recently taken on a more aggressive,
systematic, and openly slanderous character, and, in particular,
that an individual holding the status of Chief Advisor to the
President of Türkiye and Members of Parliament from the ruling
Justice and Development Party have joined this campaign, makes it
necessary for us to express our position on the matter openly.
First of all, we categorically reject attempts to deliberately
distort Azerbaijan-Israel relations, to portray these ties as
having an 'exceptional' nature, and to use this as a basis for
leveling political accusations against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
maintains normal interstate relations with Israel based on norms of
international law and mutual interests.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's position on the Palestinian issue is
consistent, clear, and principled. Our country has consistently
supported the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and
provided financial and humanitarian aid to Palestine. President of
Palestine Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa have
visited Azerbaijan on various occasions. The operations of the
Embassy of the State of Palestine in Azerbaijan are also supported
financially by the Azerbaijani State.
President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly declared from the highest
international platforms that Azerbaijan supports a resolution to
the Palestinian issue based on international law and relevant UN
resolutions, adhering to the ‘two-state’ principle with East
Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine. Azerbaijan's
position regarding the events in Gaza is likewise grounded in
humanitarian values, the protection of the civilian population, and
international law.
Azerbaijan’s relations with the Islamic world stem from
principles of mutual respect, equality, and solidarity, rather than
from any political expediency. The contributions our country makes
to strengthening Islamic solidarity are highly valued by Muslim
states. The plan to host the next Summit of the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation in Azerbaijan in 2027 is a testament to the
international confidence placed in our country.
In this regard, it’s worth noting that justice, equality, mutual
respect, and solidarity occupy a central place among the
fundamental principles of Islam. No state within the Islamic world
has the right to dictate its will to other Muslim peoples,
interfere in their internal affairs, or position itself as superior
to others. A claim to serve the unity of the Muslim world must be
demonstrated through equal cooperation and mutual respect, not
through hegemonic tendencies.
Historically, the people of Azerbaijan have opposed imperialism,
colonialism, and neo-colonial approaches. This principled stance
remains unchanged today.
Throughout history, the people of Azerbaijan have held their
national, moral, and religious values in high regard. Freedom of
religious belief is guaranteed by the Constitution of our country.
The Azerbaijani state treats representatives of all religions
equally and views religious diversity as an asset that enriches our
society.
The regulations applied in the education sector are based on the
principles of equality, secularism, the rule of law, and the
assurance of equal opportunities for all citizens. According to the
Constitution of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan is a secular state. This
principle is also enshrined in the Constitution of Türkiye.
Therefore, it’s unacceptable for Azerbaijan’s secular state
structure and education policy to become a subject of political
manipulation.
Political debates surrounding religious and secular values
within Türkiye itself are deepening societal polarization. We
believe that using sensitive issues, such as the headscarf, as a
tool for political manipulation and divisiveness serves neither the
unity of the Turkish people nor the solidarity of the Muslim world
as a whole. It’s particularly impermissible to use such issues as a
means of political pressure against Azerbaijan. We call upon the
AKP government to refrain from this harmful policy.
Insulting, slanderous, and defamatory remarks directed at the
person of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and
Victorious Commander-in-Chief, Ilham Aliyev, across various
information outlets also provoke justified outrage among the
Azerbaijani public. The principle of ‘One nation, two states’,
established by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, forms the moral and
political foundation of Azerbaijan-Türkiye relations. However, the
essence of this historic phrase must not be distorted. It refers
specifically to a single nation and two independent states. Under
no circumstances does this principle justify one state interfering
in the internal affairs of the other or imposing its own political
and ideological approaches upon the other.
The Azerbaijani people have lived with the aspiration for
independence for centuries, restored their statehood, and today
live in a sovereign state that pursues an independent domestic and
foreign policy under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.
The New Azerbaijan Party believes that representatives of the
Justice and Development Party, particularly those holding
high-ranking state positions, should demonstrate political
responsibility in their statements and show respect for the
sovereignty, constitutional order, and internal affairs of the
Republic of Azerbaijan.
We hope that the relevant political circles in Türkiye will draw
the appropriate conclusions from such irresponsible statements and
refrain from actions that could harm Azerbaijan-Türkiye relations,"
the statement added.
Saral made a biased post on his social media page regarding the
decision on standardized uniforms in Azerbaijan.
