AZERBAIJANI-ARMENIAN GAY ROMANCE NOVEL FUELS CONTROVERSY
Mina Muradova
EurasiaNet
March 4 2009
NY
"Taboos will not be easily overcome" declares the sub-title of
"Artush and Zaur." And in this bestseller novel about the romance
between two young men — one Armenian, one Azerbaijani — Azerbaijan
is experiencing the truth of that line.
The Armenian-Azerbaijani combination alone might raise eyebrows, but
in this tradition-bound society, the homosexual orientation of the
novel’s two lovers is stirring additional controversy. By contrast,
a heterosexual Armenian-Azerbaijani romance published in late 2008
received a largely favorable reaction.
"I think that it is a very good slap in the face for our society,"
commented Nigar Kocharli, owner of the Ali and Nino bookstore chain
that sells the book in Baku. "In other words, publishing such a book
is very painful for a society in which homosexuality and relations
with Armenians are taboos."
None of Azerbaijan’s large publishing houses would print the
novel. Some said the book was disgraceful; others that they were
afraid, according to the author, Alekper Aliyev. A publishing house
allegedly located in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, finally accepted the job.
Aliyev, the author, says that a desire "to fight against
petrified stereotypes" motivated him to write the book. He
recalls how allegations of homosexuality undercut the
political fortunes of Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan
leader Ali Kerimli in the run-up to last year’s presidential
election. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
sight/articles/eav050608.shtml
To reflect the problems faced by Azerbaijan’s homosexual community,
Aliyev consulted with a Dutch-financed, gay-rights non-governmental
organization in Baku about the novel.
"There is no political dictatorship in Azerbaijan," he
commented. "Society itself is the dictator."
Aliyev’s work describes the newfound love between Artush, an Armenian
in Baku, and his Azerbaijani friend, Zaur, in the opening days of
the 1988-1994 Azerbaijani-Armenian war over Nagorno-Karabakh. Twenty
years later, the pair again meets in Tbilisi, and discovers that their
feelings remain unchanged. In the end, the two, despairing of their
future together, take their own lives by jumping from Baku’s Maiden
Tower, a 12th century structure that is a legendary symbol of doomed
love for Azerbaijanis.
The relationship symbolizes the ties that persist between Azerbaijanis
and Armenians despite over 20 years of hostility, Aliyev said.
"Today, the Azerbaijani authorities offer the highest autonomy to
Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan’s territory and [this autonomy]
foresees for the first time that they [ethnic Armenians] are citizens
with the same full rights as we have. But, at the same time, the image
of an enemy is cultivated within [Azerbaijani] society and media,"
Aliyev said. "It is hypocrisy and it makes no sense to me."
A March 11 discussion with readers about "Artush and Zaur" will test
Aliyev’s theory. Ali and Nino bookstore owner Kocharli says that she
plans to host the event despite threats. Some young Azerbaijanis,
calling themselves "national socialists" have been visiting the
store’s branches, threatening clerks and demanding that the store
remove the book from sale, according to Kocharli. In Internet forums,
others have called for book burnings.
Some readers, though, say that the book opened up new ideas to them,
despite initial repugnance at the content.
"[A]fter reading the whole book, my opinion changed [about
homosexuals]. The author wanted to say much more to our society —
about our homeland, about emotions," said Pakiza Hamidi, a 35-year-old
cleaning lady.
Hamidi, nevertheless, has mixed feelings about the couple’s ethnic
differences. "Their love is free, without bounds and distinction as
to nationality. I understand it," she said. "But I would not want
this love with an Armenian. It’s humiliating."
Others object strongly. "My God, what have we come to?" fumed
university student Ilgar Gozalov. "Not only that they are Armenian
and Azerbaijani, but also they are gay. It’s just a nightmare."
Such opposing views have meant brisk sales, although numbers may
appear slim by international standards. Some 150 copies of the book
have sold in the three weeks since "Artush and Zaur" first went on
sale, one-third of the total print run, according to Aliyev.
Bookstore owner Kocharli can only hail the novel for sparking interest
in Azeri-language literature. "As a bookstore owner, I think he is
worthy of respect because he made people read books," she said in
reference to Aliyev. "People who have not read a book for many years
now visit their bookstores."
But Aliyev, who left a bank job to shield his employer from
the novel’s repercussions, takes a dim view about the chances for
change in attitudes toward either Armenians or homosexuals. Those
Azerbaijanis who attend next week’s book discussion will most likely
be mere curiosity-seekers, he predicted.
"I believe that nothing will change not only in Azerbaijan, but in the
whole South Caucasus region in the next hundred years, unfortunately,"
Aliyev said.