Aze.US
Comments by Azerbaijani lawyer Akram Hasanov urging young people to avoid several social and political influences have sparked debate online, highlighting wider tensions around values, identity, and civic participation.
Azerbaijani lawyer Akram Hasanov has triggered widespread discussion on social media after publishing a post outlining what he described as seven harmful influences from which young people should distance themselves.
These included alcohol abuse, drug use, gambling, LGBT identity, political opposition, ethnic nationalism, and religious radicalism.
Hasanov argued that political opposition in a small state risks becoming a tool of foreign influence, while also acknowledging the importance of lawful civic activism, public oversight of state institutions, and criticism conducted within a legal framework.
He described ethnic nationalism as a threat to statehood, saying modern states are based on civic national identity rather than ethnic exclusivity, while affirming individuals’ rights to self-identify with their ethnic background.
Religious radicalism, he wrote, contradicts both state stability and core religious teachings by promoting intolerance and the concept of a supranational religious state, while freedom of belief should remain protected.
Hasanov concluded by urging young people to prioritize substantive education, scientific development, and the creation of what he characterized as a stable traditional family structure.
The post generated mixed reactions online, reflecting broader societal debates in Azerbaijan over cultural norms, political participation, and the boundaries of public discourse.