Public figure: no Muslim will back Azerbaijan in eulogy of murderer

September 1, 2012 - 17:55 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The recent developments in Hungary and pardon of a criminal by Azerbaijan have expanded the gap between the Armenian and Azeri people, according to a representative of United Caucasus Youth Assembly.

“The murder of an Armenian office and the reaction of the Azerbaijani people proved Azerbaijan’s hostility towards Armenia,” Rafi Abdul Jabar said.

“It’s not a secret that Azerbaijan will seek support among the Muslims of Caucasus and Afghanistan, but will hardly get such. After a murderer was treated like a hero, no Muslim will back Azerbaijan, as the Koran equates the taking of even one human life unjustly with killing all of humanity,” he said.

“A real Muslim would condemn but never laud a murder of a man, especially a man in his sleep,” the activist said.

Ramil Safarov, who was sentenced to life by a Hungarian court for the murder of Armenian office Gurgen Margaryan in February 2004, was extradited to Azerbaijan on Aug 31 and immediately pardoned by the country’s President Ilham Aliyev.

In response, Armenia suspended diplomatic relations with Hungary.

Gurgen Margaryan

On February 19, 2004, Lieutenant of the Armenian Armed Forces Gurgen Margaryan, 26, was hacked to death, while asleep, by a fellow Azerbaijani participant, lieutenant Ramil Safarov, in Budapest during a three-month English language course in the framework of Partnership for Peace NATO-sponsored program. In accordance with Budapest District Court sentence dated April 13, 2006, Ramil Safarov was life imprisoned for murdering the Armenian officer.

On February 22, 2007, Budapest Court rejected the Azerbaijani military officer's appeal against a life sentence. The appeal court ruled that the decision brought by Budapest District Court against 30-year-old Lieutenant Ramil Safarov, should stand.

On August 31, 2012, Hungary extradited Safarov back to Azerbaijan, where he was promptly pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev.