In recent years, the scars left by colonialism have continued to shape political, cultural, and social landscapes around the world. On March 29, the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) hosted an international conference on the theme of "Colonialism: Erasure of Religious and National Identity," bringing together leaders of independence movements, political prisoners’ families, and decolonization experts from territories long under French and Dutch colonial rule. Held in Azerbaijan’s capital, this gathering was more than just an academic discussion—it represented a poignant reflection on the consequences of colonialism and the ongoing struggle for justice, self-determination, and the preservation of cultural identity.

The conference addressed the destructive legacies of colonialism, focusing on the systematic erasure of national and religious identities. This was a process by which colonizers imposed their languages, customs, and beliefs while suppressing those of the indigenous populations. In colonies like Guadeloupe, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia, colonial powers enacted policies that included forced name changes, bans on native languages, and the deliberate destruction of cultural practices. The conference participants—many of whom are descendants........

© AzerNews