Ali Malikov
Ali Malikov is an Azerbaijani queer activist who, for the first time in the history of Azerbaijan, began to publicly talk about bullying at school. The founder of the Azerbaijani LGBTQ+ news and community platform Azerbaijani: "Qiy Vaar", where he talks about bi and homo visibility, biphobia, homophobia and monosexism, he is also a member of the feminist group "Femkulis" [1] and actively participates in all protests for human rights and freedoms.[2] He can be called the youngest activist fighting for human rights in Azerbaijan.[3]
Ali Malikov | |
|---|---|
Əli Məlikov | |
 | |
| Born | 4 april, 2005. |
| Citizenship | Azerbaijan |
| Known for | queer activist |
Biography change
Ali Malikov was born on April 4, 2005 in Baku. Studied and graduated from school No. 244 in 2011-2022. Already in high school, he began his struggle against the conservative views of society, which limited his freedom.[4]
Activity change
Ali was afraid to even step into the school hallway, feeling unsafe. According to him, his peers tried to physically abuse him everywhere. Because of his sexuality, teachers tore up his notebooks and insulted him. Although he complained to the school principal many times, the school principal ignored the matter. A psychologist from the School Friend project was brought in for Ali. [5] But the specialist only advised him not to pay attention to what happened. But Ali did not want to put up with the bullying of his peers, as well as teachers. According to him, the Russian language teacher at school showed his photographs to students, telling them that Ali was gay and that he was spoiling the image of the school and education [6]
The school director, in response to all these tortures, advised Ali not to come to school in the 11th grade and not to worry about the certificate, that he would receive a certificate without attending school. But Ali told BBC News that his goal in highlighting bullying is not just for himself, but for all students who experience violence and bullying. Failure to attend school is already a restriction of the right to education. [7]
Researcher Lala Makhmudova wrote in 2019 about the lack of an official document on cases of student violence and the indifference of the administration at Malikov’s school is not surprising. Noting that students very often make homophobic slurs at each other in Azerbaijani schools, the author states that the lack of statistical data is one of the biggest obstacles to researching the extent of discrimination in schools.[8] But Ali began to boycott the school in protest against all this and tried to make his voice known to the whole world.[9] In an interview with OC Media, Malikov noted that until the school takes appropriate measures and prevents bullying and insults not only against him, but also against other students, he will boycott the school.[10]
After graduating from school, Ali continues to actively fight for human rights. He became one of the initiators to hold pride events dedicated to Pride Month in June 2022, for the first time in the history of Azerbaijan.[11] And so on June 9, LGBTIQ activists Javid Nabiyev and Ali Malikov, as well as feminist and political activist Rabia Mamedova, held a briefing for journalists to draw attention to the problems faced by LGBTIQ people, protested against discrimination, and voiced demands before the state [12] .Ali also became one of the activists who protested the trial of the killer who beheaded and castrated gay journalist Avaz Hafizli, and demanded a more severe punishment for him than the 9-year sentence that was handed down by the court. Ali Malikov told PinkNews : “Currently, we cannot follow the trials of Avaz Hafizli, and we cannot remain silent against this lawlessness... Media representatives and LGBTQ+ activists gather every time at the courthouse”.[13] Ali not only fights for LGBT rights, but also participates in all actions for human rights and freedoms in Azerbaijani society, exposes police violence and notes its unacceptability.[14]
References change
- ↑ "Queer activist in Azerbaijan". bitopya.org. Archived from the original on 2023-01-26. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ↑ "In Azerbaijan's capital, calls for an end to impunity against activists · Global Voices". Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ↑ Toesland, Finbarr (2023-05-22). "'My friends all had to leave': What life is like in Europe's worst country for LGBT rights". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ↑ ahmedbeyli, samira (2022-09-08). "Azerbaijan considered most homophobic country in Europe, JAMnews". English Jamnews. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ↑ "Azərbaycanda bullinqə məruz qalan 16 yaşlı məktəblini müdafiə edən tapılmır". Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ↑ DYLBERIZM (5 December 2021). "Në Azerbajxhan, bullizmi në shkolla është ende një problem". Dylberizm (in Albanian). Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ↑ "Mother of queer in Azerbaijan". www.youtube.com/@bbcnewsazerbaijani. Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ↑ "Azerbaycanlı lise öğrencisi okulda maruz kaldığı zorbalığı dünyaya duyurmaya çalışıyor". Archived from the original on 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ↑ "Student boycotts school in Baku over alleged homophobic abuse". Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ↑ "In Azerbaijan, bullying in schools is still a problem · Global Voices". Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ↑ "Azerbaijani activists to hold Pride events for first time in history". Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ↑ "Azerbaijan's embattled queer community holds «Pride event» | Eurasianet". Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ↑ "Avaz Hafizli: LGBTQ activists blocked from journalist killer's trial". Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ↑ "Əli Məlikov: «Elə mühit yaradırdılar ki, insanlar bir-birlərini əzsinlər»". Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.