USCIRF Report on Religious Freedoms Faces Backlash for Bias Against Azerbaijan
Washington, The Gulf Observer: The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has once again come under scrutiny for its biased stance against Azerbaijan in its latest annual report on global religious freedoms. The Western Azerbaijan Community has strongly condemned the report, stating that it is based on unfounded allegations and misleading narratives.
According to a statement by the community, the report relies on fabricated claims promoted by radical Armenian nationalists and organizations such as the “All-Armenian Charitable Union” and the “Aragats Foundation,” which are known for their anti-Azerbaijani agendas. Furthermore, the document also references reports from “Freedom House,” which the community described as an instrument of the radical Armenian diaspora, notorious for spreading misinformation.
The statement also highlighted that the USCIRF’s report fails to address Armenia’s violations of religious freedoms, including the destruction of over 300 mosques and hundreds of cemeteries during its occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
“It is unacceptable that the commission portrays Armenia as a state that ‘fully ensures religious freedom’ while ignoring its history of ethnic cleansing and cultural destruction,” the statement read.
The Western Azerbaijan Community further called on the USCIRF to focus on the Armenian government’s refusal to allow a UNESCO mission to assess the condition of Azerbaijani cultural and religious heritage within its borders.
Additionally, the community condemned the disrespectful use of terms such as “Nagorno-Karabakh” in the report, stating that such language undermines Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“We condemn the USCIRF’s biased and racist approach, which obstructs peace and reconciliation in the region. We urge the U.S. government to take appropriate action against this double-standard policy,” the statement concluded.
