9 November 1918; 107 years ago (1918-11-09) (original design) 5 February 1991; 34 years ago (1991-02-05) (restored) 22 October 2013; 12 years ago (2013-10-22) (colors standardized)[1]
Design
A horizontaltricolor of bright blue, red, and green, with a white crescent and an eight-pointed star centred on a red band
The nationalflag of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani:Azərbaycan bayrağı) often referred to as thetricolor flag (Azerbaijani:üçrəngli bayraq), is a horizontaltricolor that features three equally sized bars of bright blue, red, and green; a white crescent; and a centredeight-pointed star. The flag has become the predominant and most recognizablesymbol of Azerbaijan. The bright blue representsAzerbaijan'sTurkic identity, the red represents progress, and the green representsIslam, which is Azerbaijan's majority religion.
TheAzerbaijani Flag Day, held every year on 9 November, was established by Law No. 595 on 17 November 2009. The day commemorates the first official adoption of the tricolor as anational flag by theAzerbaijan Democratic Republic, which occurred on 9 November 1918. The flag was used by the republic until the 1920Soviet invasion of Azerbaijan. It was reinstated, with slight variations to the colors and size, on 5 February 1991 following the country's independence from theSoviet Union.
The flag is referred to in thenational constitution and mentioned twice in the national anthem,Azərbaycan marşı. On land, the flag is used as the civil, state andwar flag; at sea, it is used as the civil, state, naval ensigns, and thenaval jack. The Azerbaijani law regulates the flag's use and display, protecting it fromdesecration. The flag also has official status inNakhchivan, an autonomous republic within Azerbaijan.[2]
Flag of Azerbaijan between 21 June and 9 November 1918 ADR flag made by Mammad Amin Rasulzade during the years of emigration
On 28 May 1918, theAzerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR)declared independence. One of the first actions of the republic was the adoption of national symbols. Taking inspiration from theflag of the Ottoman Empire, the ADR adopted its first state flag on 21 June 1918, which depicted a white crescent and a white eight-pointed star on a red background.[3][4] The new flag was almost identical to the old Ottoman Empire flag, which also featured aneight-pointed star until 1844 when it was replaced by afive-pointed star.[3][5] The similarities between the flags reflected thehegemony of theOttoman Empire at the time, as well as the ethnic kinship between theTurkic populations of ADR and the Ottoman Empire.[6]
Within a few months, the newly adopted flag began to be questioned due to it exclusively representingTurkism.[7] Thus, it was suggested that a new flag be created. The new flag was to reflect three ideas: Turkism,Islamism and the desire for progress. These ideas reflected the official ideology of ADR, which was "Turkicisation, Islamicization, and Modernisation".[8][9][10] The formation of these ideas was influenced by the work of Islamic ideologistJamal al-Din al-Afghani who, in his books "The Philosophy of National Unity and the True Essence of Religious Unification" and "Islamic Unity", wrote that the progress of Muslim peoples is possible under the condition of religious consolidation,national unity and the study of the progressive traditions of European statehood.[11]
On 9 November 1918, a draft of an updated state flag was approved. Created byAli bey Huseynzade,[12] the new flag was a horizontal tricolor of blue, red and green with a white crescent and an eight-pointed star placed in the centre.[13][3]
On 7 December 1918, the updated state flag was raised over Azerbaijan's parliament building. In a speech to the parliament,Mammad Amin Rasulzade, theAzerbaijani National Council chairman who had declared ADR's independence, stated: "[...] and for this reason, gentlemen, the National Council has raised this three-colored flag, which represents Azerbaijan, and this flag, the symbol of Turkic sovereignty, Islamic culture, and modern European power, will always fly above us. This flag, once raised, will never come down again".[14][15]
Use of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic flag after 1920
After the fall of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in April 1920 following theRed Army invasion, their flag was used by emigrant organizations outside theSoviet Union. DuringWorld War II, the ADR flag was used by the battalions of theAzerbaijani Legion, who were military formations of ethnicAzerbaijanis fighting on the side ofNazi Germany. Depicted on the sleeve emblems of the Azerbaijan Legion's uniforms were three horizontal equal stripes of blue, red and green; a white crescent; and a five-pointed star on a red field.[15][16]
The ADR flag was used during a congress of Azerbaijanis headed by former Soviet Azerbaijani majorAbdurrahman Fatalibeyli, held inBerlin, Germany on 6 November 1943.[17] In 1922, Mammad Amin Rasulzade fled fromSoviet Russia, throughFinland and toTurkey. While there in 1952, he made a copy of the ADR flag, which he later gave to his friend Gulmirza Baghirov. Baghirov secretly brought the flag to Azerbaijan and hung it on his home inMaştağa in 1976.[18] It was given to theNational Museum of History of Azerbaijan in July 2003 and has since been kept in the museum.[19]
In 1956, a protester named Jahid Hilaloghlu raised the ADR flag overMaiden Tower inBaku, showing his defiance ofSoviet Azerbaijan. Hilaloghlu was sentenced to four years of imprisonment and his supporter Chingiz Abdullayev was institutionalized.[20]
Flag of ADR in historical photographs
The first meeting of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, where a tricolor flag was hung. 7 December 1918.
Azerbaijani delegation in Paris at the Claridge Hotel during the Paris Peace Conference, 1919. The tricolor flag of the ADR is visible in the background, on the chest of drawers.
Officers and soldiers of the army of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic against the background of the state tricolor
Flag of Soviet Azerbaijan between 1952 and 1990. Ratio: 1:2
On 28 April 1920, Azerbaijan became a Soviet republic, as theAzerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (Soviet Azerbaijan). The state flags of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic were banned during this period.[21][22] While under Soviet rule, the Soviet Azerbaijan used eight different flags. Most of the flags only variated slightly. The adaptations were the result of the chaotic early years of the Soviet Union in the Caucasus. The first unofficial Soviet Azerbaijan flag was used during the Soviet conquest ofBaku on 28 April 1920.[23]
Soviet Azerbaijan's first official flag was adopted on 19 May 1921, in its first constitution under Article 104.[24][25] At the time, the state language of Soviet Azerbaijan wasAzerbaijani Turkic and its alphabet was based on theArabic script. Therefore, the wordsA.S.R. were written in Arabic.[25] The eighth and final flag of Soviet Azerbaijan was issued on 7 October 1952. The design was similar to theSoviet national flag but included a horizontal blue band on the bottom, which took up a quarter of the flag's height. The flag's definition was as follows:
The national flag of Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic is a panel consisting of two horizontal bands of color: the upper red part of three-quarters of the width and the bottom is blue, nearly one quarter the width of the flag with the image on the top left corner of the red band, at the flagpole and gold hammer and sickle, and above them a red five-pointed star framed by gold fringe. The ratio of width to length is 1:2.[25]
In the late 1980s, during unrest in Soviet Azerbaijan, the tricolor Azerbaijan Democratic Republic flag was used in demonstrations calling for independence.[26][27] On 17 November 1990, during the first session of the Supreme Assembly of theNakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the 1918 ADR flag was adopted as the national flag of the autonomous state.[28] This flag was later adopted with the decree, "On change the name and national flag of Azerbaijan SSR". The decree was issued on 29 November 1990 by the president of Azerbaijan SSR and ratified on 5 February 1991 by theSupreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR.[29][13] The first constitution since independence was adopted on 12 November 1995 after a national vote; one of the articles described the three-color flag of the republic.[28][29]
On 17 November 2007, the Azerbaijani presidentIlham Aliyev issued a decree "On creation of theNational Flag Square" in Baku.[30] The square had a 162 metre tall flag pole weighing 220 tons. The flag flown on the pole was 35 metres wide and 70 metres long, and weighed 350 kilograms.[31][32] A museum dedicated to the national flag was also built at the flagpole. On 1 September 2010, the flag was officially raised to open the museum; subsequently becoming the world's tallest unsupported flagpole,[33] until being overtaken byTajikistan's 165 metreDushanbe Flagpole in 2011.[34] The flagpole was dismantled in 2017 due the risks of the structure falling ontoBaku Boulevard grounds.[35]
The national flag of Azerbaijan consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width, from top to bottom: light blue, red, and green. A white crescent and an eight-pointed star are in the centre. The basic description of the flag, along with its ratio, is indicated in theConstitution of Azerbaijan:
State flag of the Azerbaijan Republic consists of three horizontal stripes of the same width. The upper stripe is blue, the middle stripe is red, and the lower one is green; in the middle of the red stripe on both sides of the flag white crescent with an eight-pointed star is depicted. The width of the flag constitutes half of its length.[36]
Further specifications of the flag were detailed in the presidential decree, "On the National Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan", issued on 5 February 1991. The ratio was kept at 1:2,[37] which was used during the Soviet era.[25][38] Each stripe fully extends to one-third of the flag's total height. The star and crescent are placed in the centre of the red stripe. The outside diameter of both the crescent and the red inside circle intersects with the diameter of the star. The diameter of the star is one-sixth the height of the flag, while the inscribed circle within the star is one-twelfth the height of the flag.[38]
The flag is colored green, red, sky blue, and white. The exact specifications for its colors were issued in the 2004 decree "On the Rules of the National Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan".The color scheme used before 2013 is as follows:[citation needed]
The bright blue symbolizes the Turkic heritage of Azerbaijan, the red reflects the creation of a modern state and the development ofdemocracy, andgreen symbolizes Islam.[28][41][42] In the centre of the flag, appearing on both the front and the back, there is acrescent and star, comprising a white crescent and an eight-pointed star.[29][43]
While the crescent and star are typically seen as markers of Islam, some historians and researchers disagree about why the eight-pointed star is on the flag.Fatali Khan Khoyski points to the eight letters in the word "Azerbaijan" (آذربایجان) when written in Arabic.[11] The eight points of the star are also thought to stand for the eight Turkic peoples classified in pre-Soviet times:[28]Azerbaijanis,Ottomans (Turks), Chagatais,Tatars,Kipchaks,Seljuks, andTurkomans.[43][44] It is possible the Kipchaks actually reflect two peoples, theKazakhs andKyrgyz, which would make eight.[45]
Flag of Azerbaijan over the building of the Azerbaijani embassy in Paris
According to Article 2 of Law No. 683 of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated 8 June 2004 (as amended on 1 September 2005), the national flag must be raised by the following:[45][36]
The national flag must also be raised over the buildings, military courts and headquarters of military units and naval vessels of theArmed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the following cases:[45][36]
During the public holidays
During the military oath
In the case of awarding of military units or military courts
When a military unit or military vessel is located on the territory of another country
When hanging upright without a flagpole, the Azerbaijani flag must be placed on the wall of the building in a vertical position, so that the green side of the flag appears on the left.[46]
Flag desecration in Azerbaijan is considered a crime. According to Article 324Criminal Code of Azerbaijan "Desecration of the State Flag or the State Emblem of the Republic of Azerbaijan" is punishable by restriction of liberties for up to two years or imprisonment for up to one year.[47] Desecration can be expressed in the commission by persons over the age of 16 of a wide variety of active public actions, indicating a disrespectful attitude towards the flag, for example, its destruction, damage, or cynical drawings or inscriptions.
TheDay of the State Flag of Azerbaijan was established by Law No. 595, enacted 17 November 2009 by presidentIlham Aliyev. It is held annually on 9 November. The date is considered a non-working day in the country.[48] During his speech at the opening ceremony of theState Flag Square, Ilham Aliyev stated that the reason for signing the order on 17 November was that the ADR flag was reinstated as the state flag of Republic of Azerbaijan on 17 November 1990.[49]
The expression by Rasulzade (Azerbaijani:"Bir kərə yüksələn bayraq, bir daha enməz!"; "The flag once raised will never fall!") was the rallying cry of Azerbaijani independence in early 20th century.[50] In 1919,Jafar Jabbarly wrote the poem, "To Azerbaijani flag" in dedication to the state symbols of Azerbaijan.[51]
^"The Constitution of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic".Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. 30 September 2023.Article 10. The symbols of Nakhchivan Autonomous State: The state symbols of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic are the state flag, emblem of the Azerbaijan Republic and the national anthem of the Azerbaijan Republic.
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