The Left Should Start Caring About Azerbaijan
Where are the protests about Muslims conducting atrocities against Armenian Christians?
It’s impossible to miss the left-wing anti-Israel protests, illegal encampments, and violence in cities and on college campuses after the winter weather went away. Upper-class neighborhoods in blue cities couldn’t put up Ukrainian flags or stickers on their cars fast enough to show their support after Russia invaded. Where is the outrage from the Left over a 97% Muslim country trying to remove and ethnically cleanse an ancient Christian community of 100,000 people? That’s what’s been happening in the Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan.
A mass exodus of Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh region occurred primarily after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war between Armenia and Azerbaijan from September 27, 2020, until November 10, 2020, after Russia brokered a ceasefire. The crisis escalated in December of 2022 when Azerbaijan blockaded the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, which cut off essential supplies like food, electricity, medicine, and aid.
In late September of 2023, the 100,000 people who lived in the Nagorno-Karabakh region left in a caravan of cars, vans, and horse-drawn carriages. The Azerbaijani military launched another operation which put an end to the over 1,700-year Armenian and Christian presence in the region. Armenian refugees fled to their capital city of Yerevan and other regions with strong Armenian communities.
Where is the outrage from the Left over a 97% Muslim country trying to remove and ethnically cleanse an ancient Christian community of 100,000 people?
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees spokeswoman Kavita Belani said, “People are tired. This is a situation where they’ve lived under nine months of blockade. When they come in, they’re full of anxiety, they’re scared, they’re frightened and they want answers as to what’s going to happen next.” UNICEF said that 30% of the arrivals are minors who have been separated from their families.
Armenian villages and a church dating back to the 19th century were demolished in April. A mosque is being built over the site of the old church and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited the site. The country is moving to the complete erasure of Armenian Christian presence in the area. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom labeled Azerbaijan a top religious freedom violator for the first time earlier this month.
In late September of 2023, the 100,000 people who lived in the Nagorno-Karabakh region left in a caravan of cars, vans, and horse-drawn carriages.
USCIRF Commissioner Stephen Schneck said during a press conference, "USCIRF documented a significant and alarming increase in the number of prisoners arrested on the basis of religion or belief in Azerbaijan during the year. In addition, authorities are regularly accused of torturing or threatening sexual violence to elicit false confessions from detainees with those perpetrating such violence facing no accountability."
These atrocities and concerns from international organizations haven’t drawn the attention of the American Left like the war in Gaza started by Muslim terrorists and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Where are the lawn signs or Christian symbols of Americans supporting the people removed from their homes? This is a case of ethnic cleansing and we never heard outrage from the usual American protest groups.