The political and economic successes of the 1st ever Muslim republic

T. Belman. At the same time, Ataturk founded the Republic of Turkey and embraced secular nationalism. It lasted for almost a century and ended with the election of Erdogan. Azebirjan remained a secular democratic republic of the parliamentary model.

This is a model for Jordan to emulated.

The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was short-lived, but served as a model for today’s friend of Israel.

By Yunis Abdullayev, INN

[…]
The National Council, led by Mammad Amin Rasulzadeh, proclaimed a declaration on the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan on 28 May 1918. The Declaration of Independence indicated formation of the first democratic republic of the parliamentary model not only in the Turko-Moslem, but the whole Oriental world.

The major provisions of the Declaration adopted by the National Congress read as follows:

  • Starting from now on, Azerbaijan embracing the area of the South-Western Transcaucasia shall exist as an independent entity, enjoying all rights and realizing right of the people of Azerbaijan to have their own government.
  • A democratic republic will constitute the form of government in independent Azerbaijan.
  • The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan intends to establish friendly relationships with all nations, particularly, neighboring nations and states.
  • The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees civil rights to all citizens residing within its borders irrespective of nationality, religious identity, class affiliations, estate and sex.
  • The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan creates broad possibilities for independent development of all ethnic groups within its territory.
  • Azerbaijan will be governed by the National Council which is elected by the people and a Provisional government answerable to the National Council until the Constituent Assembly is convened.

During the same constituent meeting, the first Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan headed by Fatali khan Khoyski, a non-party member, was appointed by the National Council of Azerbaijan.

On November 19 the National Council adopted the law on convocation of the Constituent Assembly (the Parliament of Azerbaijan with broader membership) and on December 3 of the same year, halted its activities completely. During this period (also known as the National Assembly period), the Azerbaijan Parliament functioned in Tiflis, Ganja and Baku. The Baku period of the parliamentary history of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan lasted for 17 months only, December 7, 1918 until April 27, 1920. These were the dates of the first and the last parliamentary sessions. Altogether there were 145 meetings held.

Within this period the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan passed a number of extremely important laws and decrees in the spirit of the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence and taking note of the incumbent historic situation. The laws and decrees adopted were primarily aimed at the protection of the country’s independence and territorial integrity, observation of human rights and liberties and creation of a democratic state based on law. The ultimate goal of these legislative activities was formation of the three branches of power: legislative, executive and judicial ones.

The government and the parliament together in the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan implemented considerable suitable policies for the comprehensive and deep development in fields of economy, education, science, health, culture and army. A number of secondary and high schools, including those for girls, pedagogical training schools, libraries and hospitals in undeveloped regions were opened by the government. Moreover, the parliament adopted a law on the foundation of the first university in the country that is now called Baku State University.

Furthermore, the first and biggest attainment was fulfilled in the Muslim and Oriental world by the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan in that opportunities were given to women to realize their right to vote in elections in 1918, even before some European countries.

The territory of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic is spoken about for the first time in the Declaration of Independence. The document says that Azerbaijan, located in the south and east Trans-Caucasus, is an independent state. The memorandum was submitted by the Azerbaijani delegation to the Paris Peace conference in 1918.

The main aim of the foreign policy of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was to be recognized by world. The information was sent to number of European countries regarding the establishment of the independent state in South Caucasus. Therefore, the government strove to achieve successful foreign policy for three years. First, relations were normalized with Georgia; territorial disputes were resettled with Armenia, as well as numerous agreements were signed with Iran during a short period. A Friendship Agreement was signed with Ottoman Empire in 1918 too.

In another important step in foreign policy, the delegation of Azerbaijan realized successful negotiations with the representatives of western powers in Istanbul and Paris peace conferences. In May 1919, politicians of the new republic met with leaders of Britain, France and the United States in the Paris peace conference. The Memorandum of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was presented to the president of the USA, Woodrow Wilson. As a result of the successful foreign policy, the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was recognized as a de-facto state in the assembly of the Supreme Council of the Paris Peace conference on 11 January 1920.

But, taking advantage of the international situation, Bolshevik Russia occupied Azerbaijan and put an end to its independence. The Azerbaijan Republic was subjugated and renamed Soviet Azerbaijan after 23 months of existence.

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was a Parliamentarian Republic, due to fact that most functions in the political and economic administrative systems were enforced by the Constituent Assembly. The republic of 1918-1920 years in the South Caucasus was first modern and secular democratic republic in Muslim and Eastern world where all rights and freedoms were equalized not only between ethnic and religious groups, but also gender groups. There were numerous members in parliament ( Jews, Russians, Ukrainians and Armenians) who represented diverse ethnic and religious societies in Azerbaijan, moreover some Jews took high positions in the government.

During this period, the number of ethnic groups-especially Jews and Russians were free to take education and imprint newspapers in their languages. Laws that had been adopted by the parliament of Democratic Republic for three years were based on the rule of law and fundamental principles.

The Republic of Azerbaijan whose independence was regained in 1991 was follower of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

May 24, 2018 | 1 Comment »

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  1. “This is a model to be emulated“

    So what is the model for Jordan to emulate? There is more than meets the eye at first sight.

    In Turkey, it took a military junta, to pull off the task of restraining the edicts and mores of Islam. It took the sort of army officers educated in carrying out with barbaric intent, the genocide of an Armenian people. These were the officers who officiated the eradication of Muslim traditions and religious dictates in Turkey. It included the monitoring of sermons in mosques, the incarceration at whim of opponent Imams, with attention even given to ridiculous details such as outlawing the wearing of the Fez a hat favored by observant Muslims.
    In the end, when the Turkish officers relaxed their foreboding grip, encouraged towards ‘democracy’ by a feckless EU and egged onwards by Obama in recent years, as soon as the watchful military stewardship was over in Turkey, traditional Islam eventually came back. Old habits die very hard.
    In Azerbaijan, religion and tradition were made subservient to the Soviet state, suppressed by a regime of terror which only a Stalin was able to devise and carry through. We shall see how long it will take religion to creep back, or whether not.

    So what model should Jordan emulate then? The military Junta, or Stalinist methods?

    Kid yourself not. Before Muslims come to realize their religion educates them towards hatred and hostility, no regime change will help.