STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ISLAMIC COOPERATION YOUTH FORUM (ICYF) ON THE 34th ANNIVERSARY OF THE KHOJALY GENOCIDE PERPETRATED BY THE ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES IN THE TOWN OF KHOJALY OF AZERBAIJAN, ON FEBRUARY 26, 1992

H.E. Taha Ayhan, the ICYF President, commemorates the 34th anniversary of the genocide in Khojaly town of Azerbaijan perpetrated by the Armenian armed forces on February 26, 1992.

Because of this atrocity, 613 people, including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly, have been killed, whereas 1,275 people have been taken hostage and tortured. 150 hostages, including 68 women and 26 children, are still missing. 487 people have been severely injured during this massacre. Moreover, 8 families have been totally exterminated, and 155 children have lost their parents.

Referring to the Cairo Final Communiqué (Paragraph 117) adopted by the 12th session of the Islamic Summit, held in Cairo in 2013, and to the resolution on “solidarity with the victims of Khojaly massacre of 1992” adopted by the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the OIC, held in Istanbul in June 2025, which considered the actions perpetrated against the civilian Azerbaijani population in the occupied town of Khojaly as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide at the national and international levels, as well as to the Resolution no. 7/51-C which commended the activities of the “Justice for Khojaly” international civil awareness campaign towards raising international awareness of the Khojaly genocide, the ICYF president reiterates that the Khojaly Genocide was a result of the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani territories by the Republic of Armenia and is one of the most horrific crimes of genocide committed in the history of humanity in the 20th century due to its scale, brutality, and inhuman treatment.

H.E. Ayhan emphasizes the importance of implementing the relevant international law to punish the Armenian perpetrators of this genocidal act, while believing that the establishing the long-term peace  between Azerbaijan and Armenia will bring sustainable development and prosperity to the entire region.

Looking for progress and well-being in the region, especially for the betterment of young people, the ICYF president once again expresses his deep condolences to the Government and Brotherly People of Azerbaijan.