INTELLECTUALS BACK FAMOUS AZERBAIJANI WRITER IN ATTACK

Hurriyet, Turkey
Feb 12 2013

ISTANBUL – Hurriyet Daily News
by Vercihan Ziflioðlu

Turkish and Armenian intellectuals have recently issued support
messages for renowned Azerbaijani novelist Akram Aylisli, who became
the target of attacks for his latest novel.

“When true intellectuals and true writers defend truths, it does not
mean that they don’t love their country. [Aylisli’s] statements clearly
show that a patriot cannot remain silent in the face of the truth,”
Writers’ Union of Armenia President Levon Ananyan told Radio Liberti.

Prominent publisher, author and human rights activist Ragýp Zarakolu
released an announcement titled “Azeri Vicdanlýlara Sahip Cýkalým”
(Defend Azerbaijani Conscience). “No matter what you call honest
people with conscience, they are the real pride of a country.

Currently, the life of Azerbaijan’s pride, Aylisli, is under a
severe threat. Even though some Western countries and Russia invited
him, Aylisli displayed an honorable posture and rejected leaving
his homeland. In order to prevent another murder resembling the
assassination of Hrant Dink, I call the international public and the
democrats of Turkey and Azerbaijan to active solidarity with Aylisli,”
the announcement read.

Aylisli became the target of attacks both from the state and the
public after the release of his latest novel, “Stone Dreams,” which
depicts Azerbaijani-Armenian friendship through its protagonists. A
symbolic DNA test was done last week in Baku to prove whether Aylisli
was Armenian. A group of angry people gathered in front of Aylisli’s
house, painted crosses on his photos and burned them, shouting slogans
such as, “Traitor, shame on you!

Aylisli had been the recipient of many national and international
awards, and was also declared “Azerbaijani National Writer” in 1987,
but President Ýlham Aliyev stripped him of all his national honors
on Feb. 7.

February/12/2013