JUSTICE FOR KHOJALY-FREEDOM FOR KARABAGH INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN SAUDI RABIA

Ar Riyadh, 27 February (AzerTAc). Azerbaijan`s embassy in Saudi Arabia has launched Justice for Khojaly-Freedom for Karabagh international campaign initiated by Mrs.

Leyla Aliyeva, general coordinator of ICYF-DC for Inter-Cultural Dialogue, on the
occasion of the 17th anniversary of Khojaly genocide.
The ceremony brought together Saudi state and government officials, members of the
Azerbaijani community, diplomats and representatives of international organizations,
including Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
Ezzat Mufti, and journalists.
Addressing the event, Ambassador Tofig Abdullayev raised the awareness among the
participants about history of Armenian nationalists` genocide policy against
Azerbaijanis and the massacre of innocent people in Khojaly.
According to the Ambassador, "On this night 17 years ago, 613 innocent people - 106
women, 63 children and 70 the old – were killed; 1275 taken hostage, with 155 of
them still missing; while 487, of them 76 underage people, were left disabled."
"As a result of this military-political crime 8 families were completely
slaughtered, 25 children lost both, while 130 one of their parents. Fifty six of
those killed were murdered with extreme brutality as some of them were burnt alive,
others had their eyes put out and were scalped and beheaded; pregnant women were
bayoneted in the stomach."
The Ambassador also expressed regret over the fact “the international community has
not yet given a legal assessment to the genocide”.
The ceremony also featured a Heydar Aliyev Foundation made-documentary on the
genocide.
OIC Deputy Secretary General Mufti said he was deeply impressed by the film, and
described the Khojaly genocide “as vandalism not only against the Azerbaijanis, but
also the whole humanity.’