Aliyev calls European Parliament 'nest of corrupt figures' and urges Muslim countries to unite
Aliyev meets religious leaders
On 15 September, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused European institutions of bias during a meeting in Baku with representatives of Muslim religious organisations and participants in international conferences. He said the peace process with Armenia was continuing. At the same time, he stressed that Azerbaijan intended to strengthen its military capabilities.
The meeting was attended by members and observers of the Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Administrations of the Organisation of Turkic States, co-organisers of the Yahya Bakuvi International Conference, and representatives of the Supreme Religious Council of the Peoples of the Caucasus.
Allegations against European institutions
Aliyev accused the Council of Europe and the European Parliament of supporting Armenia and applying double standards towards Azerbaijan. He called the European Parliament a “nest of corrupt figures”.
“I say this with full responsibility: the European Parliament is a nest of corrupt figures. Millions of dollars in cash were found in the house of its vice-president, and they covered up the entire affair, as if it had never happened. Her name is known; she is a Greek member of the European Parliament.
How many years have passed since then? Has any measure been taken against her? No. Has she been held accountable? No. She was released.
Look, the European Parliament consists of these Islamophobes, and this must remain a matter of constant attention.”
The president linked Azerbaijan’s restoration of full control over Karabakh in September 2023 to a subsequent decision concerning the Azerbaijani delegation. In his account, the decision came in response to Baku’s military operation.
He was referring to a decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which refused to ratify the credentials of Azerbaijan’s delegation in January 2024. PACE is a body of the Council of Europe and has no connection to the European Parliament, which is an institution of the European Union.
The report on which PACE based its decision cited a broader range of reasons, including Azerbaijan’s failure to fulfil its human rights obligations, reports of political prisoners, arrests of independent journalists, restrictions on monitoring, and the absence of an invitation for observers to attend the presidential election. The document also mentioned the military operation in Karabakh and the departure of the region’s Armenian population.
Peace process and military power
Aliyev expressed hope that the peace process with Armenia would last in the long term. At the same time, he said the war and destruction of the past would not be forgotten, and that Azerbaijan would remain vigilant on security issues.
The president described military power as one of the guarantees of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In his view, the growing role of military power in international relations requires Azerbaijan to further strengthen its defence capabilities.
The meeting also addressed the expansion of regional conflicts. Aliyev stressed the importance of joint efforts to preserve peace in the Turkic world and the Caucasus.
Call for religious solidarity
Aliyev said that an undeclared war was being waged against the Islamic world, and described Islamophobia as one of its components. According to him, Muslim countries’ main response to this pressure should be solidarity.
“Discrediting the Muslim world, tarnishing its image, equating it with terrorism, and committing such insulting acts against our values and the Holy Quran—do you think these things happen by chance? No. This is a deliberate and targeted policy. And what must we counter this with? Only our unity. Therefore, this call for unity is not merely a slogan.
This is what we have faced—that is, for over 30 years, both from a territorial point of view, as our territory was under occupation, and from a political point of view, as Azerbaijan is one of the very few Muslim countries participating in European organizations.
Therefore, we know what happens there. As a member of the Council of Europe, we have faced these injustices, we continue to face them, and we will likely continue to face them. This undeclared smear campaign against us will never stop. Why? Because we do not and will not bow before anyone. We speak our mind, we protect our national dignity, and we protect our way of life.
We do not allow certain trends that are alien to our people and our religion to take root in Azerbaijan. We are guardians of morality. Look, this is why these campaigns are being waged against us. I expanded the scope of our meeting somewhat simply to substantiate my points with evidence.
That is, once again, the main message is that we must all strive for unity. Again, I say, the words of religious figures carry special meaning for all Muslim countries.”
The president also announced that Baku would host a summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation next year. He called on religious leaders to promote peace and cooperation within their communities.
Aliyev meets religious leaders
