Azerbaijan considering a bill to ban LGBT+ promotion
Following the latest attack on the LGBTI+ community in Azerbaijan, Vechernica speaks to Alex Shah, a trans rights advocate and journalist from Azerbaijan, currently based in Luxembourg, and board secretary of TGEU - Trans Europe and Central Asia.
What happened in Azerbaijan this morning?
The morning of October 10th, the Azerbaijani state-owned media and tons of news portals reported that Azerbaijan is working on a new law proposal to ban LGBT propaganda. The reported restrictions could affect media, the internet, films, advertising and education. Although the proposal has not been officially confirmed or published, the reports themselves are deeply concerning because they raise the possibility of further restrictions on freedom of expression and the visibility of LGBT people in Azerbaijan.
The law is inspired by and similar to what in our neighboring countries, like Russia, Georgia, and others in the region. Besides, Azerbaijan is Europe's worst country for LGBTI+ rights, according to ILGA Europe’s rainbow map, it’s at the bottom, alongside Russia.
Besides homosexuality not being illegal, our country doesn't have any social, legal, economic, cultural protection for LGBT individuals, and people are also facing stigma, discrimination, in all areas of education, employment, healthcare, and barriers in basic spaces.
Okay, so what you're saying is this is not an isolated attack on queer rights, it's been brewing for a long time, but is it the first time that there is an attempt to change a law?
Since Russia adopted their first anti-LGBT law, discussions in Azerbaijan, especially in the parliament, have been ongoing – whether we should also have a similar law. Over the years, during the sessions of our parliament, we have been facing extreme hate speech from politicians and parliament members. This time we also see that currently Azerbaijan is suppressing lots of minority groups, among them are currently Muslim communities, and hijabi communities. Last week the government banned hijab at schools, both for adults and minors, and we also think that one of the reasons the government is putting the LGBT topic on the table is that they want to change the topic, because they banned hijab. The ban has led to a lot of dissatisfaction in the wider country, because Azerbaijan is a country where people mostly identify as Muslim, and we, the LGBTQ people, are used currently as a distraction to shift public attention away from this issue and the stigmatisation of LGBTI people is exploited for political purposes. Generally, the human rights situation in Azerbaijan is getting worse, in the case of independent media, journalists are in jail, NGOs are shut down, receiving international funding or local government funding for civil space is nearly impossible and totally restricted, and in general civic space in Azerbaijan is facing ongoing destruction.
So you said that this is not even proposed yet, it's being prepared, did I understand you right?
Milli Majlis, the national Parliament of Azerbaijan, confirms that there are currently ongoing discussions on the topic but we don’t have a draft law. We don't know how it is going to happen, because in Azerbaijan how the laws are being drafted or adopted is in a very undemocratic way. If they want to, they can pass legislation into a law in one day, but them giving such information to the public right now is very alarming, and as it's an undemocratic society, no one can intervene to address this proposed legislation, so we are currently being attacked by this news since the morning.
What can we do to show solidarity, how can we support you in a meaningful way?
Most of the people don't even know Azerbaijan as a country, where it's located, and even the LGBTI rights situation there, however we are considered in the European region, and we are included in the pan-European LGBT rights advocacy as a country. We are included in Europe, and it would be great for the international community to learn, and to spread awareness, first inside their own countries and then to others about Azerbaijan. We also need international media support, we see real restrictions on the coverage, having the media less attracted to report Azerbaijan. We also need diplomatic pressure, as this interview is for the audience in Bulgaria, we would appreciate it if Bulgarian civil society has any statement, or any questions, putting diplomatic pressure on the Azerbaijani embassy in Bulgaria. And also, we would love human rights defenders from the region, to include Azerbaijan in their advocacy in the region, in the Caucasus, in Eastern Europe, so that our voices and our current legal struggles are reported and heard.
You said that you think this is a distraction from that ban that happened last week, how do you think these issues are connected?
These issues are deeply interconnected. Attacking the hijab, for example, is not simply about religious clothing; it is about a government seeking excessive control over people’s lives, identities, and personal freedoms.
Ultimately, these measures are part of a broader attempt to suppress society, restrict civic space, and prevent people from coming together, organising, and expressing who they are. Whether someone identifies as Muslim, LGBTQ+, a woman, or a political opponent, the underlying objective is to limit people’s autonomy and their ability to exist freely and collectively.
Who should we follow to stay informed?
The statements and updates always will be in the pan-European LGBT organizations, ILGA Europe, TGEU, IGLYO. Also the news can be always get from our local media, which is mostly Azerbaijani, but in some cases international media also reports, also Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, these international NGOs also share updates about Azerbaijan.
Okay. Is there something you want to add that you think is important?
I would be happy that this message is being spread in Bulgarian society, especially feminist collectives and people, because we also need cross-border solidarity. Yeah, we absolutely do.
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