#BakuPride2024: No one must be left behind!
As we mark Pride Month, LGBTQI+ communities worldwide celebrate the achievements and resilience of our movements while recognizing the ongoing challenges our communities face. Despite the challenges of these times when our existence is more at risk, we choose to come together once again at Baku Pride Week, to make…
Welcome to #IDAHOBIT2024Baku Exhbitions
The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) is a global occasion that highlights the importance of addressing discrimination and promoting equality for the LGBTI+ community. Despite the challenges of these times, we choose to remain hopeful. Continuing the tradition, Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance plans to mark this year’s…
UN Member States call on Azerbaijan to protect the rights and freedoms of LGBTI+s
On November 14, 2023, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council held its fourth periodic assessment of the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani delegation was led by Samir Sharifov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. During the review, six…
Queers in Baku are blackmailed, sexually abused, and extorted by police after the birthday party
On the 26th of July 2023, the police raided a birthday celebration, primarily a group of individuals who identified as queer, taking all to the Yasamal district 26th police station. Subsequently, they were subjected to forced medical examinations under the false suspicion of drug consumption. As if this invasive violation…
Pride Month Baku 2023: Our Fight is Just!
As we mark Pride Month in June, this month, LGBTQI+ communities worldwide celebrate the achievements and resilience in our movements, while recognizing the ongoing challenges our communities face. Nafas stands in solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community globally and we reaffirm our commitment to promoting equality, non-discrimination, and respect for the…
PACE Rapporteur: Azerbaijani police must stop harassing LGBTI people and activists
“I am deeply concerned by new reports that LGBTI people and activists defending their rights in Azerbaijan have again been targeted by police officers,” said Christophe Lacroix (Belgium, SOC), General Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the rights of LGBTI persons, on May 31. “Following…
Javid Nabiyev shares alarming mistreatment by Azerbaijani police
Javid Nabiyev, an LGBTQI+ activist has revealed a harrowing account of mistreatment and abuse endured at the hands of the Azerbaijani police on his Instagram post. He spoke out about his personal experiences of discrimination and violence, shedding light on the systemic prejudice faced by the LGBTQI+ community in the…
LGBTI+ activists detained in Baku faced accusations of administrative offences
After the detention of LGBTI+ human rights defenders in front of the 37th Police Department in Baku, new information about their legal situation has been released. According to the information provided by journalist Nurlan Libre, Javid Nabiyev, Ali Malikov and two other unidentified people were brought to the police department…
LGBTI+ activist details mistreatment and trauma
LGBTI+ activist, Ali Malikov who was recently detained in Baku, Azerbaijan, has taken to social media to sharedistressing details about the treatment endured during their detention. Malikov, who was amongst the activists protestingthe arrests of trans community members, described a harrowing experience lasting over 20 hours. In their tweet, Malikov…
Community members protest against the arrests of trans community members
Today, on May 23, LGBTQI+ activists gathered to protest against the recent arrests of a trans community members. On May 22, videos circulated on social media showing confrontations between the police and three trans individuals in Baku’s Xetai district. The footage depicted the trans individuals being detained after an altercation…
IDAHOBIT – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia celebrates the theme: “Together Always: United in Diversity“. In recognition of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on May 17th, the global LGBTI+ community comes together under this year’s theme of “Together Always: United in Diversity.” The theme…
Facing the State: Police Departments and LGBTQ+s
“Facing the State: Police Departments and LGBTQ+s” film presentation by Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance concluded the May 17 – IDAHOBIT Week with events that reflect the reality in the country. As part of our event, a screening of the film, which covers the experiences of LGBTI+ community in the police…
IDAHOBIT Week 2023 Baku: What is ahead?
17th May is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. On this global day, as LGBTQI+s, we stand against any targeting of our marginalized identities based on gender identity, sexual orientation, class, and other forms of discrimination. On this global occasion, we wish to draw attention to the necessity…
IDAHOT+ Forum 2023
Today, the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, is hosting the European States’ LGBTQI+ Network’s (EPFN) IDAHOT+ Forum. The IDAHOT+ Forum is organised by the Icelandic Government with the support of the Council of Europe’s SOGI Unit and the 2023 Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Sexual and Gender Identity Division. The IDAHOT…
Rainbow Map and Index 2023
For over a decade, ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map and Index has been a crucial tool for benchmarking LGBTQI+ rights across Europe. In the present edition, Malta continues to hold the number one spot, while Azerbaijan ranks last with a score of 2%. The Rainbow Map uses 74 criteria across seven categories,…
Twin Brothers Representing Azerbaijan at Eurovision Face Homophobic Backlash on Social Media
Tural and Turan, twin brothers representing Azerbaijan at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, have faced homophobic backlash from people in Azerbaijan on social media due to their unique style. Despite the negativity, TuralTuranX’s stylist expressed confidence in their style choices, saying, “I am not aware of criticism. All of Europe…
Survey: Needs Assessment for Mental Health Camp
Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance is inviting community members to help plan a mental health focused summer camp. The camp aims to create a safe and inclusive environment where LGBTQI+s can comfortably discuss their mental health issues and receive necessary support. LGBTQI+s are encouraged to fill out an assessment form to…
Queer Art Festival Baku Announces Open Call for Artists
Queer Art Festival Baku 2023 has announced an open call for the art festival of the year and invites local visual artists to participate in a group exhibition with their creative works. The festival is specifically targeting trans, non-binary, gender-diverse, multisexual, and queer artists to explore the theme of “Underprivileged”…
Nafas organised training on queer journalism
Nafas Azerbaijan Alliance for LGBTI organised a one-day training program called “Queer Journalism” related to article writing. During the training, theoretical knowledge on storytelling was shared with the participants, and practical exercises related to preparing articles were conducted. The training covered topics such as ethical codes in media, working with…
May 1 – Labour Day
May 1 – Labour Day Queerphobia divides the class! As the Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance, we join the global celebration of International Workers’ Day on May 1st, and we reaffirm our commitment to the struggle for the rights and dignity of all workers, including LGBTQI+ workers. In Azerbaijan, LGBTQI+s face…
Solidarity with LBTQI+ women | Lesbian Visibility Week
As the world celebrates Lesbian Visibility Week, Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance joins the global community in showing solidarity with LBTQI+ women and non-binary people. This week aims to celebrate lesbians and raise awareness of the challenges faced by LBTQI+ women, particularly those from marginalised communities. Although Lesbian Visibility Week has…
Twitter Censors Terms Associated with LGBTQI+
atform, sparking concerns among users and activists. On Saturday, 1 April, Twitter users noticed that tweet previews in direct messages (DMs) were not showing up for tweets containing words such as “trans”, “LGBT”, “LGBT+” and “BLM” (Black Lives Matter). Instead, users were only seeing a plain link. What’s more alarming…
European Parliament Passes Resolution on EU-Azerbaijan Relations, Highlights LGBTQI+ Rights
The European Parliament has passed a resolution on EU-Azerbaijan relations, specifically emphasising the importance of human rights, including those of LGBTQI+ citizens. The resolution refers to several international conventions, including the European Convention on Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention against Torture and…
Call for workshop on labour rights
“My Labour Rights” announces an open call for participation. As it is stated in Article 35 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, everyone has the right to work under safe and secure conditions without discrimination. But how does this apply in reality of our community? How can we…
Feminist Library | Fem-Utopia
Fem-Utopia has recommended a list of books on gender-based violence that are available to read for free. The initiative is inviting everyone who is interested in learning more about gender-based violence and women’s rights to visit their feminist library at Baku Community Space. The list includes 14 titles covering various…
Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance Holds First Meeting with Volunteers
Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance held its first meeting with volunteers on March 14th, marking an important milestone in the organisation’s mission to promote LGBTI+ rights in Azerbaijan. The meeting served as an introduction for the volunteers to each other and to the activities and goals of Nafas LGBTI. The organisation…
Kalben Hangs Trans Pride Flag at Baku Concert, Sends Message of Inclusivity
Kalben – a well-known singer from Türkiye had the opportunity to visit Baku, Azerbaijan for the first time in her career. The talented musician revealed how it took her five albums before she finally made it to the city. She shared her experiences on social media, detailing all the exciting…
Survey on Situation of Discrimination, Violence, and other Violations of Rights against LGBTIQ+ Citizens
A survey has been launched to investigate the situation of discrimination, violence, and other violations of rights against LGBTIQ+ citizens based on their gender identity and sexual orientation. The survey aims to collect data that can be used to develop recommendations for the collection of LGBTQ+ data and the assurance…
Panel Discussion Explores Intersection of Feminist and LGBTQI+ Mobilisation
Fighting Against Exploitative Power and Conservatism Questioning the Complementarity of the Movements Inclusivity of the Local Feminist Movement Proposals for Effective Collaboration On March 9th, the Baku Community Space hosted a panel discussion on the intersection of feminist and LGBTQI+ mobilisation organised by Nafas LGBTI and Q-Collective. The event, titled…
Feminists Pushed by Police During March for Women’s Rights in Azerbaijan
During the recent march for women’s rights in Azerbaijan, feminists and LGBTI+s were pushed by the police, causing some protestors’ conditions to worsen. Witnesses reported that the police crowd was pushing and shoving the protesters, and the feminists were caught in the middle of it. The woman, whose name has…
“8 March – We Want to Live”
The feminist community in Azerbaijan has announced plans to hold a march “8 Marş – Yaşamaq İsrəyirik” – “8 March – We Want to Live” on March 8, in honour of International Women’s Day. The march comes at a time when violence against women in the country has reached alarming…
Feminists Answered to FAQs | Video
The “8 March – We Want to Live” march, organised by feminists in Azerbaijan, is set to take place on March 8th, International Women’s Day. This march has been an annual event for the past five years and aims to highlight the issues faced by women in the country. The…
“Queers are Awake and, United with Feminists We Stand”
A poster that reads “Kuirlər Oyaqdır, Feminist Hərəkata Dayaqdır” was hung over a bridge located in Baku’s Central Park. The poster, which translates to “Queers are Awake and, United with Feminists We Stand,” has garnered attention and pointed out a necessary conversation about LGBTQ+ rights and feminism in Azerbaijan. The…
Feminist Community Marches for Women’s Rights and Safety in Azerbaijan
Feminist Community Marches for Women’s Rights and Safety in Azerbaijan Dozens Take to the Streets Demanding Action Against Gender-Based Violence Rising Violence Against Women and Political Retaliation Sparks Outrage March Organisers Call for Implementation of Policies and Conventions Protesters Vow to Continue Fight for Women’s Safety and Rights Dozens of…
ILGA-Europe: Deadliest Increase in Violence against LGBTQI+s
“This year, we have seen violence become more and more planned and deadly, making LGBTI people feel unsafe in countries across Europe.” LGBTQI+ umbrella organisation, ILGA-Europe, announced that in 2022, hatred against LGBTQI+ across the region has reached the stage of life and death. Launched today in Brussels, ILGA-Europe’s Annual…
Trans Woman was Sexually Harassed in Baku
Karmen, a 19-year-old trans woman, was sexually harassed on August 11 in the Baku metro. According to the victim, the metro was busy, so she decided to get on the next one after leaving several trains. Right after getting on the train, a man grabbed her arm and apologised, then…
19-year-old bisexual woman receives death threats
Gunay, 19-year-old bisexual woman was threatened with death by her father. After her father found out that she was bisexual, she was and threatened with death by him. On July 4, the victim contacted LGBTI+ rights activist Ali Malikov. Together, they called the call centre of the Ministry of Internal…
“Sun to My Body” Film Screening
Minority Azerbaijan invites you to the second presentation of the film “Sun to my body” – “Bədənimə günəş”. The feature film tells the story of a lesbian couple, a trans woman longing for a family, and a gay boy who is having trouble with his partner. Throughout the film, we…
15-year-old Teenager Subjected to Violence by her Family
15-year-old teenager is subjected to violence by her family and put under house arrest in Baku. The teenager, who did not want to be named, said that she ran away from home a week ago as her family put him under house arrest. The next day, she met her friend…
LGBTI+s, Women and Cities
Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance introduces the topic of “LGBTI + s, Women and the Cities” in our third podcast record of the Queer-Feminist series. This time, our guests Nigar and Turana answered the questions like: “Why is urban planning important for women and LGBTI +? How inclusive are our cities…