Donald Trump collaborates with Azerbaijan – worst country for representatives of LGBT communities
The US Republican Party nominee for president of the USA, billionaire Donald Trump, collaborates with countries notorious for their unfriendly attitude towards the representatives of LGBT communities. Azerbaijan is one of those countries, New Now Next reports.
It is noted that in the final presidential debate, Donald Trump claimed Hillary Clinton – the Democratic Party nominee for the president – is no ally to the LGBT community because she has accepted donations from countries that discriminate against the LGBT communities. However, it is highlighted in the article that Trump signed a $3 million deal to open a hotel in Azerbaijan, even though that country was named worst place for gays in Europe by the ILGA.
It is highlighted that an 18-year-old Azerbaijani boy was reportedly set on fire by his parents after they found out he was gay.
Trump also signed deals with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and United Arab Emirates, which are also notorious for their intolerant attitude towards LGBT communities.
Earlier, the Associated Press reported that six months before he entered the presidential race, Donald Trump announced a new real estate project in Baku, Azerbaijan. Trump's choice of partners in Baku was AnarMammadov, the son of the country's transportation minister ZiyaMammadovsuspected by U.S. diplomats of laundering money for Iran's military and described as “notoriously corrupt”.
It was emphasized that according to the State Department report, any American contemplating a business venture in Azerbaijan faces a risk: "endemic public corruption."
There have been many cases of expression of hatred and intolerance towards the LGBT community in the country. In 2014, a 19-year-old young man could not endure discrimination from family and others and committed suicide. In another case, a 17-year-old young man was brutally raped by eight persons who filmed it on video, and then extorted money from the victim. The young man could not get the required amount of money, and the video was delivered to his family. Parents beat him. Nothing more was known about his fate.
In January 2014, the leader of an Azerbaijani gay rights group, Isa Shakhmarli, committed suicide in Azerbaijan. He was discovered dead after reportedly hanging himself using the rainbow-coloured flag. Prior to his death, Shakhmarli said in an interview that LGBT Azerbaijan people struggle because it is a homophobic country and many cannot find a job. This means 90% are forced to remain closeted.