Reminiscing, contemplating and disseminating historic event, particularly the unjust one, it will enabled us to learn from it and grow as a better person for not repeating it. University Al-Azhar Indonesia (UAI) as a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Indonesia, very much aware that it is UAI duty to raise society awareness on an unjust historic event. Therefore, UAI with OIC Youth Indonesia, Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum – Eurasian Regional (ICYF – ERC) and Indonesia National Youth Council (NYC Indonesia) supported by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Jakarta, Indonesia conducted “30 Years Anniversary Khojaly Genocide Commemoration” at Buya Hamka Hall, Al-Azhar Great Mosque on February 25, 2022.
The ceremony commenced with a prayers towards the souls of the martyrs of Khojaly and followed with releasing black balloons in their memory. Then, Dr. Ade Jamal, as the Vice-Rector IV of UAI gave his opening remarks, continued with a signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between UAI represented by Dr. Ade and OIC Youth Indonesia represented by Chairman of the OIC Youth Indonesia, Ms. Astrid Nadya Rizqita.
Subsequent to the MoA signing session, moderator of the event from the representative of OIC Youth Indonesia invited all the speakers to the stage. The speakers are Mr. Tantan Taufiq Lubis, Vice President of the ICYF and Chairman of the NYC Indonesia, Ambassador of the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Indonesia, Mr. Jalal Mirzayev, Chairman of the Interparliamentary Commission of the House of Representatives of Indonesia, Mr. Fadli Zon.
Chairman of the 1st Commission of the House, Mr. Helmi Fasal Zaini, Professor of UAI, Dr. Husnan Bey Fanani, Chairman of the International Relations and Cooperation Committee of the People’s Consultative Assembly of Indonesia, Mr. Bunyan Saptomo. Each of the speakers emphasized on the importance of global citizen and most importantly, Amernia, acknowledging the atrocities done by the Armed Forces of Armenia towards citizens in Khojaly, February 1992.
As recognizing this will be a prominent milestone for Armenia and Azerbaijan that will led to reconciliation for both countries. Furthermore, recognizing the genocide, in the very least, it will gave the victim and its family the justice they deserved. The commemoration ended with a presentation by Ms. Astrid on the “Justice for Khojaly” campaign and advocated participants to join the online campaign.
-Bagus Ramadhan-