TODAY.AZ / Society

Azerbaijan Democratic Republic -a glorious page in Azerbaijan's history

28 May 2015 [09:14] - TODAY.AZ

/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

Millions of Azerbaijanis living in Azerbaijan and across the world celebrate May 28, the establishment of the first independent and secular democratic state in the Islamic world -- the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

The ADR was established on May 28, 1918 with the goal of building an independent, free, and democratic republic. It went down in the chronicles of the Azerbaijani nation as a great and historic event and marked a glorious page in Azerbaijan's history. In its short period of existence the ADR returned national consciousness to the Azerbaijani people.

The ADR was a pioneer that combined both European democratic values and the abundant cultural heritage of the East in one entity. All citizens of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, regardless of their ethnic and religious affiliation, were granted the right to vote. Thus, women gained suffrage for the first time in the Islamic world.

Mammad Amin Rasulzade, the brightest and most prominent political figure during those times and the ideological leader of the revolutionary nationalist movement in Azerbaijan, declared Azerbaijan's independence and adopted the Declaration of Independence.

This document envisaged Azerbaijan's independence, declared the people of Azerbaijan as the source of the government and ensured political rights and citizenship to all its residents regardless of their nationality, faith, class and gender.

"On this day, the Azerbaijani nation was able to build its own country. Availing of its long and rich history, on this day, Azerbaijan gained a significant political achievement... By declaring its independence on May 28, 1918, the Azerbaijani nation made its historic dream a reality. Azerbaijan was able to apply the most important ideology and slogan of the times; every nation has the right to self-determination. Listening to the voices of the majority of its citizens, on this day, Azerbaijan declared its independence," said Mammad Amin Rasulzade in a well-known speech to the Azerbaijani nation broadcasted on Voice of America from Washington on May 28, 1953.

The ADR, managed by Western-educated, young, bright and intelligent people, and de-facto recognized by the participants of the Paris Peace Conference, was the first parliamentary democracy with a Republican form of governance in the Muslim world. It formed a Western-style cabinet of ministers and ensured the full independence of the judiciary system and courts.

"Though the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan survived only 23 months in a complicated and tense socio-political situation it will always stay in the memory of future generations as one of the brightest pages of our history... The most important matter is that the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan strengthened our democratic views even though it existed only for a short period of time," said national leader of modern Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/society/141043.html

Print version

Views: 1578

Connect with us. Get latest news and updates.

Recommend news to friend

  • Your name:
  • Your e-mail:
  • Friend's name:
  • Friend's e-mail: