French amnesia: When rotten morality matters more than memory

France will soon begin celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory over fascism — a sacred holiday for the civilized world. For almost all of it.

As it turns out, for the French authorities, petty malice is more important than respect for memory.

They invited nearly everyone to the events — almost. Azerbaijan was somehow ignored. A mistake? Unlikely. This is a deliberate act of rudeness, perfectly in line with today’s Paris.

France loves to talk about "values" but forgets them when it comes to Azerbaijan. Let’s recall: Ahmadiya Jabrayilov — an Azerbaijani, a hero of the French Resistance — saved French lives, risked his own, and fought for their freedom.

Eighty years have passed — and France ignores the country of a hero. This isn’t just hypocrisy. It’s a slap in the face of history. A disgrace.

Apparently, the new France doesn’t need real heroes. It prefers pocket-sized “freedom fighters.”

If their memory has really rusted, or they are pretending not to know, we can remind them.

Ahmadiya Jabrayilov was born in the village of Okhud, Shaki District, Azerbaijani SSR, on September 22, 1920. In 1941, he began serving in the Soviet Army.

During his active military service, Jabrayilov joined the French partisans against the Nazi Germans, with whom he carried out numerous dangerous combat operations. With the “Poppies squad,” he liberated the city of Toulon, making his way through the sewers to the city center and striking behind enemy lines. Jabrayilov also participated in the liberation of Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, and Paris.

Captured in a German camp, Jabrayilov was later tested by fate with even harder trials. Through his honorable service, he wrote the most unforgettable chronicle of heroism in his life.

But today, those who do not want to see or speak of this want to cast a shadow over the name of a hero who saved dozens, perhaps even hundreds of lives 80 years ago.

Perhaps France is jealous to speak of such heroism. Because it has no example it can present to match such courage. If it is favorable, let’s elevate it; if it is against us, let’s smear it — the traditional policy continues.

But heroes like Ahmadiya Jabrayilov always live in hearts, in memory. Let those who pretend to be suffering from amnesia take care of their illness — their hearts are diseased anyway.