The great historical hero of Azerbaijan, Babek Khurramdin, after protecting our country from the aggression of the invading caliphs like the Abbasids for twenty-two years starting from the age of twenty, was captured by the intrigues of the Armenian Sahl ibn Sambat and after severe torture in the palace of the caliph al-Mutasmin in the city of Samira, Arakin in 222 AH, heroically sacrificed his life for the sake of his people and homeland. Although the date of his birth is unknown, for seven years, his birthday has been traditionally celebrated in a magnificent and solemn manner every year on the second Thursday and Friday of the month of Tir, with the participation of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani eids. This year, the magnificent ceremony days will fall on the 11th and 12th of the month of Tir, and hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani eids will gather at the Babak fortress. However, as every year, those who want to postpone these magnificent days to other days with the aim of disrupting the people have decided to delay this magnificent ceremony by a week this year, using the unofficial death anniversary of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s) as an excuse. However, according to the 1383 calendar, the death anniversary of that Hazrat was celebrated on Wednesday, the 31st of the month of Tir, which is written in red. Usually, the days and official holidays marked in red in the Iranian calendars have strong credibility due to the black-lined tradition.
Every year, on the second Thursday and Friday of the month of Tir, traditionally the birthday of the hero Babak is celebrated only as a great national holiday of our people, and magnificent speeches and protests are made for the payment of our people’s national and cultural rights, and the ignorant goals of those who create divisions and benefit from it, as every year, will be thwarted!
Azerbaijan National Front-Gunesh Party
Malmö-Sweden, May 27, 2004
