Urmia, the Heart of Azerbaijan... Sea of Fire and Blood

Panahi Khiyavi, Shahram

Urmia, the Heart of Azerbaijan... Sea of Fire and Blood" A Brief Look at the Reports of the Tajaddod Newspaper on the Christian Invasion of Western Azerbaijan**** Urmiya, Azərbaycanın Ciyərparçası... Od və Qan Dənizi": Təcəddüd Qəzetinin Xristianların Qərbi Azərbaycana Hücumu Haqqında Məruzələrinə Qısa Bir Baxış

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Shahram Panahi khiyavi

Islamic Azad University

Abstract

This article examines the invasion of Christians (Armenians, Assyrians, and Jelus) into western Azerbaijan at the beginning of the 20th century, based on reports from the newspaper *Tajaddod* (1917–1918 AD / 1335–1336 AH).

Following the 1917 Russian Revolution and the withdrawal of Tsarist forces from Azerbaijan, armed Christian groups, with overt and covert support from Western powers (especially France, Britain, and the United States) and missionaries, launched a widespread offensive against the western cities of Azerbaijan, including Urmia, Salmas, Khoy, and Marand. Their goal was to seize territory, establish an independent Christian government, and ultimately Christianize the region.

The newspaper *Tajaddod*, as the press organ of the Tabriz Democrats led by Sheikh Mohammad Khiyabani, continuously exposed the crimes of the invaders. According to reports, Christians, dressed in military uniforms, set homes on fire, looted property, and carried out mass killings. One report states that six thousand one hundred Turkic Azerbaijanis were brutally murdered.

The central government in Tehran was indifferent and powerless toward these tragedies, and the appointed governors could not manage the situation. This incompetence laid the groundwork for Sheikh Mohammad Khiyabani's uprising in April 1920. The Democrats of Tabriz repeatedly requested help from the central government but received no response.

Finally, with the arrival of Ottoman forces in May 1918, the invaders were defeated and driven back to northern Azerbaijan. However, the author emphasizes that the hostility of Christians and their Western supporters toward Azerbaijan did not end; evidence can be seen in Armenia's occupation of Karabakh (1988–1994) and the Khojaly massacre (1992). The article concludes that a thorough study of history, strengthening collective memory, and national unity are the only ways to confront historical and current threats against Azerbaijan.

Keywords

Azerbaijan

Urmia

Tajaddod Newspaper

World War I

Subjects