At all costs, do not insult or speak badly of President Ilham Aliyev, as well as his direct predecessor his father, the late President Haydar Aliyev and the Aliyev family in general, who rule Azerbaijan. This carries a prison sentence, or if you are a foreign citizen, the remote possibility of deportation from the country. In late 2009, two young men were sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for depicting President Ilham Aliyev as a donkey giving a news conference in a video that was put on YouTube.
At all costs, do not mention Armenia and the Armenians and the very bitter Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that has been ongoing with neighboring Armenia which has occupied the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Azerbaijan has lost 20% of its territory and must support some 800,000 refugees and internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Bitterness and hatred against Armenians run very high.
Religion:
Even though 95% of the population is officially Shiite Muslim, Azerbaijan is officially a strictly secular state is by and large an agnostic and non-religious nation. This is true not only in large cities but even in villages and rural areas as well. Don't assume that anyone you do not know believes in God or has a passion for Islam or in other faiths. Investigations into people's faith is largely unwelcome, and outside places of worship, displays of your faith should be kept private. Saying grace for example, is likely to be met with bewilderment and silence. Religious attire such as Muslim headscarves, Kippahs or even t-shirts with religious slogans, will - while tolerated - also make many Azerbaijanis feel uncomfortable. Those with long beards may arouse the suspicion of the authorities. Respect that and you will also be respected.
Social custom and ettiquette breaches:
Don't blow your nose during meals, even discreetly. This is considered extremely rude.
Don't pick your teeth during meals, even discreetly. This is considered extremely rude.
Don't put your feet up while sitting and try not to show the bottom of your feet to someone. This is considered very rude.
Don't point with your finger at someone, even discreetly. This is considered rude.
Don't chew gum while having a conversation and during public occasions. This is considered extremely rude.
Don't touch someone without permission. This is considered extremely rude.
Don't bear hug or back slap someone, especially in formal situations and occasions and with someone you just met and/or you do not know well enough. This is considered very rude.
Don't raise your voice or shout in public, especially on public transportation. This is considered extremely rude.
Don't use swear words during conversation or while talking to oneself in public and also among friends. This is considered extremely rude.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Azerbaijan
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Azerbaijan - updated Apr 2024
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Azerbaijan Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
