ISLAMIC FACTOR IN THE CONTEXT OF 2020 ARTSAKH WAR: THE AZERBAIJANI PROPAGA TOOLKIT AGAINST THE ARMENIAN WORLD

Тhe ruling elite of Azerbaijan used the Islamic factor in Nagorno-Karabakh issue in advantageous way. For many years the internationally formed anti-Armenian agenda for International Islamic community has been presented domestically. In the context of 2020 war the rhetoric of Karabakh issue was highlighted by Islamic undertone. Аfter the end of the war Ilham Aliyev’s visits to the areas controlled by Azerbaijan (Akna, Shushi, etc.), prayers in the mosques and ‘’Islamic speeches’’, are noteworthy. Particularly, the joint prayer of Sunni and Shia soldiers in Shushi Mosque has become the centrepiece of the Islamic discourse. The Azerbaijani authorities made every effort to use the Islamic factor to consolidate the victories of the war and to enlist the support of disaffected social circles. In general, Azerbaijan made extensive use of the Islamic factor in both external and internal audiences to spread propaganda against the Armenian world and to create anti-Armenian sentiments.