The Human Rights Commission of the East Azerbaijan Bar Association recently issued a statement that, citing historical documents and international regulations, examined the situation of Iraqi refugees—particularly Kurds living in western Azerbaijan—from legal, humanitarian, and security perspectives. The statement highlighted the social, economic, and security consequences of the long-term presence of these groups and stressed the need for legal clarification and resolution, including the repatriation of some of them. It also warned that the unregulated presence of refugees could create opportunities for exploitation by certain movements and armed groups.

However, the publication of this legal stance was met with harsh reactions. On one hand, factions close to Kurdish terrorist groups and “Iran-shahri” circles—long known for racism and hostility toward Turkic identity—attacked Azerbaijani lawyers. These groups, who themselves were implicated in atrocities such as the Sulduz massacre, leveled baseless accusations against the lawyers despite their own record of violence and enmity toward the people of Azerbaijan. On the other hand, Iranian security agencies exerted direct pressure, forcing the commission to remove the statement from the bar association’s official social media page.