The Commemoration of the Khojaly Genocide Victims program was held on February 24, 2025, at the Ibn Haldun University Student Center Event Hall. The program was attended by our Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, our President, Prof. Atilla Arkan, the Consul General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Istanbul, Narmina Mustafayeva, as well as academics, students, and members of the press.
The program began with a tour of the exhibition on the Khojaly Massacre, followed by a recitation of the Quran, a moment of silence, and the national anthems of Turkey and Azerbaijan. Subsequently, protocol speeches were delivered, and the program concluded with a commemorative photo session.
The Consul General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Istanbul, Narmina Mustafayeva, began her speech by saying, "Today, we have gathered here to commemorate one of the most painful pages in human history." She stated that the genocide perpetrated in Khojaly by the Armenian Armed Forces and their supporters on February 26, 1992, left a deep wound not only in the conscience of Azerbaijan but in all of humanity. She emphasized that Khojaly had become a test of humanity and that the world remained indifferent to this atrocity, with the call for "Justice for Khojaly!" going unheard. She noted that, as a result of Azerbaijan's long-standing efforts, 18 countries have recognized these bloody events as genocide, but powerful states are not among them, and international organizations have also remained indifferent to these events. She stressed that the memory of the martyrs should always burn as a torch, not only for mourning but also for continuing the quest for "Justice for Khojaly!" She concluded by highlighting that "Today should also be a day of pride for our victory, unity, and solidarity," and noted that in 2020, Khojaly broke free from its chains and stepped from captivity to freedom, marking this struggle as an important part of the fight for justice.
Our Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, began his speech with the words, "Will the justice of the righteous or the justice of the powerful prevail in the world? We are a nation that fights for this.” He recalled that our ancestors protected many oppressed peoples throughout history and ruled the Middle East and the Balkans with justice for centuries. He emphasized that there are many lessons to be learned from the struggle for the recognition of the Khojaly Genocide and mentioned that Turkey has been fighting against the double standards of the West for decades, from 2020 to the present. Our Vice Chairman also commemorated Srebrenica along with Khojaly and drew attention to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, which the West continues to ignore. Bilal Erdoğan emphasized the necessity for the Turkic world to stand in solidarity and firmly support each other's causes, stating, "The righteous must be strong." He also stressed that the Islamic world should likewise uphold and defend one another’s struggles. Concluding his speech, he underlined the significance of the day and the commemoration program, saying, "Remembering such tragedies will also contribute to the fight against their recurrence."
Our President, Prof. Atilla Arkan, began his speech by commemorating Haydar Aliyev and emphasizing the strong bonds of brotherhood and friendship between the two countries with the phrase "Azerbaijan and Turkey are two states, one nation." Prof. Arkan stated that power and justice must be protected together by nations and societies, and highlighted the intellectual responsibilities of universities, noting that "Understanding the world we live in well, preparing societies for the future, and expanding cooperation between countries with concrete steps" are among these responsibilities.
