The interview of the LGBTI+ activist faced backlash

The interview of Kamran Rzayev, the chairperson of the Gender and Progress Awareness raising Public Union, on the DALAN 18+ Youtube program faced backlash by LGBTI + activists and the community.

In an interview broadcasted on Monday, February 15, Kamran Rzayev spoke about LGBTI+ in Azerbaijan. The program touched upon the topic of "LGBT individuals in Azerbaijan" and aimed to discuss in detail the problems faced by LGBTI+ in Azerbaijan as in other Islamic countries, discrimination and illtreatment in all spheres, approaches to and stigmas about them.

It should be noted that DALAN stated in the statement about the interview that its purpose was not to "promote these individuals and the subject" and "to show the way out and inform the public instead of hiding the problem."

LGBTI + activist Ali Malikov advised his followers on his Facebook page not to "watch the program at all." According to him, it is ridiculous that "someone who calls cis-heteroses 'natural' and labels sex workers as 'abnormal-minded' works as the chairperson of the Gender and Progress awareness raising Public Union."

Although LGBTI + human rights activist Vahid Aliyev praised the media coverage of the issues raised in the program, he said that "it was queerphobic of the presenter to often say 'they', 'these', 'these people' instead of LGBTI+." "Unfortunately, instead of using this opportunity to inform the public about the difficulties and problems faced by LGBTI+s, those involved in sex work were accused for creating a negative image of the community," the human rights activist added.

Turana Nuri, an activist from Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance, also expressed concern about the interview, saying it was of no value to the LGBTI+ struggles. "It's just good to have this type of material to analyse the situation in the country," they added.

According Vahid Aliyev, LGBTI+s face epidemic levels discrimination in the country. There are no laws to protect their rights, and an anti-discrimination act must be passed. For trans people, this means that their daily lives are in danger, only last year there were several stabbings. “The most vulnerable group transgenders often engage in sex work because they face difficulties finding work.” - he said.

We would like to note that according to the report of ILGA-Europe in 2020, Azerbaijan is on the list of the worst countries in Europe in terms of LGBTQ+ rights and the situation of LGBTQ+ in the country