“Art Has No Borders” — Conversation with trans singer Samira Shah

In recent weeks, trans singer Samira Shah has found herself at the center of a targeted smear campaign on social media and in several media outlets. Following her performance at a memorial event held at the Mirza Alakbar Sabir Cultural Center in Bulbula settlement, she responded to both hate speech and public silence with a video appeal addressed to the President and First Vice President of Azerbaijan.

Minority Azerbaijan spoke with Samira Shah about what happened, public reactions, art, and the sense of belonging.

“Society needs to be educated”

Minority Azerbaijan: After the recent posts, your name became the focus of public and media discussion. How do you assess these reactions?

Samira: Naturally, a part of society that enjoys spreading negativity on social media reacted quite harshly. Those who don’t care simply pass by. Among those who support me, some remain silent, others leave positive comments, and some express their support privately.

In my opinion, society needs to be educated. You cannot simply reject and alienate everything you do not know or understand.

“That day belongs to the entire nation”

MA: What did the memorial ceremony dedicated to martyrs mean to you?

Samira: That day belongs directly to our entire nation, to every citizen of our republic.

As a transgender woman, like all other women, I was waiting for my soldier — the person I loved — to return from the war. Thank God, he came back decorated with medals.

“Journalists turned people’s emotions into a toy”

MA: What do you think about the videos of your performance circulating online?
Samira: I believe I performed with dignity and honored the memory of the martyrs. Journalists simply wanted to stir up hype, and they orchestrated it. Through their headlines, they turned me into a target. They knew very well that it would provoke a major backlash. For them, people’s emotions are nothing but a plaything.

“I am a citizen of this country — I was born on this land”

MA: You said, “I am a citizen of this country; I was born on this land.” As an artist and a trans woman, how possible is it to feel a sense of belonging in Azerbaijan?

Samira: It’s an undeniable fact that Azerbaijan is my homeland. Of course, I love my city and my country. Like every LGBT+ person, I fight for my place in this world.

I believe that one day, human rights in Azerbaijan will be protected and ensured without any discrimination. But for that to happen, there must be unity, and people must think more deeply — unfortunately, most still think very superficially.

“Art has no borders”

MA: Some of your critics come from the field of culture. How do you see the relationship between art and tolerance?

Samira: I think those who criticize me live without understanding what culture truly means. Creativity, culture, and many scientific discoveries were made by LGBT+ people. Art has no borders. Narrow-minded people who create imaginary boundaries will never be able to produce anything great.

“I also need to release my creative energy”

MA: What are your future plans? Despite all this pressure, what does staying on stage and continuing your art give you?

Samira: My future plans are wonderful. At the moment, I’m investing more into my creativity than ever before. More precisely, I’m putting my soul, strength, time, energy, love, and finances into it.

Every star and the sun itself has the quality of emitting heat, light, and energy. If it only accumulates, it explodes and perishes. I, too, need to release my creative energy.

The voice of Samira Shah is not only the civic stance of a trans woman, but also a defense of artistic freedom and human dignity.
Despite facing attacks on stage and online, she reminds society of the most fundamental question through her choice to “stay on this land” and “share her creative energy”:

“Why should a person be punished simply for existing?”

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