An international conference titled "Right of Return and Self-Determination: Double Standards and Selective Approaches," organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), was held at the Congress building (Capitol Hill) in Washington, D.C., SİA informs, citing the BIG.
It was noted that this event held at Congress can be assessed as a significant contribution to the recognition by the international community of the truths regarding the ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis by Armenia.
Experts specializing in the protection of the rights of refugees and national minorities, human rights defenders, specialists in international law, representatives of civil society institutions, and our compatriots of Western Azerbaijani origin participated in the conference.
Conference participants emphasized the importance of keeping the recognition of the fundamental rights of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis forcibly expelled from their historical lands in Armenian territory as a result of ethnic cleansing policies – the right to safe, voluntary, and dignified return to their historical lands – constantly in the spotlight of international organizations.
A legal assessment within the framework of international law was demanded regarding the facts of systematic destruction, desecration, and appropriation of cultural, religious, and historical heritage belonging to the Azerbaijani people remaining in Armenia, including toponyms, mosques, cemeteries, shrines, and other monuments, and an on-site investigation and documentation of the mentioned violations by international organizations was called for.
Representatives of Armenian media operating in the US, including representatives of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), also watched the event from the hall. However, no incidents were recorded during the course of the event.
Speaking at the conference, Western Azerbaijanis living in the United States shared their personal stories and refugee experiences, highlighting the humanitarian tragedy faced by Azerbaijanis forcibly expelled from Armenia.
Representatives of the Sikh community, in turn, highlighted that the right to safe, voluntary, and dignified return is not only a humanitarian issue but also a matter of fundamental human rights and the restoration of historical justice.
At the same time, Secretary General of the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) Oussama Jammal and founder and CEO of the "Our Sister Our Brother" organization Matthew Stewart spoke at the event, noting the inadmissibility of ethnic discrimination, forced displacement, and human rights violations, and drew attention to the protection of the rights of displaced communities, the amplification of their voices on international platforms, and the strengthening of international solidarity.
At the end of the event, an appeal addressed to members of the US Congress was adopted by the conference participants. The appeal emphasizes the necessity of consistent, fair, and non-discriminatory application of the right of return and the right of peoples to self-determination in accordance with the norms and principles of international law.
The document notes the importance of providing international support for the right of Western Azerbaijanis to safe, voluntary, and dignified return to their homeland, the restoration of their property rights, and the protection of their cultural heritage.
Additionally, the appeal also reflects concerns related to the rights of the Sikh community and the peoples of territories that were under Dutch colonialism, calling for these issues to be taken into consideration by the US Congress.
The appeal emphasizes the importance of defending the right of return, self-determination, and universal human rights on a unified and principled basis, free from selective approaches.
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