Azerbaijan

I came across this country in a website listing. I have never heard of Azerbaijan before so I thought as I write this blog, we can learn together.

Azerbaijan is located in “Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia” (kwintessential.) In “1991, Azerbaijan declared their independence from the Soviet Union” after the Soviet Union had them under rule (Central Intelligence.) The Capital of Azerbaijan is Baku and the majority of the nation is “ Turkic and Muslim” (Central Intelligence.) The climate is mostly dry with big mountains in the north. Ninety percent of the population is Muslim and the primary language is Azeri.

The Azeri’s’ lifestyle is old fashioned; the man makes the money while the women takes care of domestic things. (Kwintessential) The Azeri culture has many superstitions like

            “Leaving scissors with opened blades brings misfortune and even death, never hurry to a funeral ceremony, do not cross the way the funeral train goes and if you meet a person with bread and full bags, you will have good luck” (kwintessential.)

Etiquette in the Azeri culture is similar to Americans but they have a few unique ones.

            “ Always give a odd number of flower. Even numbers are reserved for funerals. If there are many people present at a dinner, shake hands with everyone. The hostess generally serves the food. The elderly are served first, then the guests, and finally the children. Use your right hand only to eat and to pass things” (Kwintessential.)

While searching for more information about Azerbaijan, very little came up. I found on CIA.org that there is a trafficking person problem in Azerbaijan. It read that

            “Azerbaijan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor, and women and children subjected to sex trafficking; women and some children from Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey, the UAE, Russia, and Iran for the purpose of sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked to Russia and Moldova for the purpose of forced labor.”

After all of that said, “The Government of Azerbaijan has not made sufficient progress in investigating, prosecuting, or convicting labor trafficking offenses or in identifying victims of forced labor” (Central Intelligence.)

The Government of Azerbaijan is Republic with a civil law system and the current president is Ilham ALIYEV. (Central Intelligence)

Azerbaijan is a mysterious country that I would like to learn more of. From the few details the Internet give of this country, it is as if the Azeri people would like to stay a mystery. 

Reference

"Azerbaijan- Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette." Www.kwintessential.co.uk.         Web. 6 Feb. 2013.

"Central Intelligence Agency." CIA. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.