Baku hosts international conference on "Colonialism: Erasure of Religious and National Identity" VIDEO
Baku, March 29, AZERTAC
On March 29, an international conference on "Colonialism: Erasure of Religious and National Identity," organized by the Baku Initiative Group, was held in Baku.
The event brought together leaders and representatives of independence movements, as well as families of political prisoners, from territories under French and Dutch colonial rule, including Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Kanaky (New Caledonia), Corsica, Martinique, Réunion, Bonaire, French Polynesia, Mayotte, and Wallis and Futuna.
Addressing the event, Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, stated that shortly after its establishment, the BIG successfully built strong cooperation with seven colonized territories. “Today, we are actively working with 15 such regions.”
Abbasov mentioned that BIG has organized more than 20 international conferences in less than two years, noting that “Today’s conference is the 25th, marking our significant contribution to the decolonization process.”
He further explained that BIG now operates as a think tank, gathering and analyzing data on incidents in colonized territories and the consequences of colonialism. "We have prepared and published over 10 reports on these issues, submitting them to international organizations. Additionally, we have published two books," he added.
Abbasov emphasized that colonialism has far-reaching negative impacts on these territories, not only politically but also socially, in healthcare, and in environmental spheres. "During COP29, we organized six international events addressing these concerns, bringing the environmental challenges faced by colonized regions to the attention of the global community," he concluded.
“Assimilation is a weapon of mass genocide. Africans have been subjected to it for centuries. Forced assimilation is particularly dangerous. Our fight against it continues,” said Jean Jacob Bicep, Secretary General of the People's Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe.
"Guadeloupe is committed to preserving its culture, heritage, and traditions. Therefore, we must unite with other nations that have suffered from colonialism. Our diversity should become our strength," the Guadeloupe representative added.
The event continued with sessions focused on the erasure of religious and national identity under colonial rule, assimilation policies, restrictions on native languages, suppression of religious beliefs, forced name changes, and the rewriting of history to fit imperial narratives. Discussions also addressed the consequences of colonial policies, global anti-colonial movements, preservation of national heritage, the release of political prisoners, and demands for reparations.
The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) and the People’s Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe signed a memorandum on strategic cooperation on the sidelines of the conference. The memorandum was signed by Jean Jacob Bicep, Secretary General of the People's Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe, and Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group.
As part of the conference, a photo exhibition was also launched, showcasing images depicting the devastating impact of France's colonial policies, including caricatures of French President Emmanuel Macron. The photos highlight France’s inhumane crimes in its former colonies, the victims of colonial oppression, and the plight of political prisoners.
The event also included a flash mob dedicated to those unlawfully imprisoned in Kanaky.
At the end, a shirt featuring the image of political prisoner Christian Tein was signed by Abbas Abbasov, as well as the leaders and representatives of the independence movements, demonstrating solidarity with the political prisoners.
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