Abstract
<jats:p>The presented study examines the Turkic-Islamic architectural monuments, especially mosques, that existed in the city of Yerevan, one of the important historical and cultural centers of Western Azerbaijan, now called "Armenia", and their historical fate. The cited historical sources and research works once again show that the city of Yerevan has been one of the important residential and cultural centers of the Azerbaijani Turks since ancient times. The rich material and cultural heritage formed in this city reflects the history, religious life and architectural traditions of the Azerbaijani people. An important part of that heritage is made up of architectural monuments related to the Islamic religion, especially mosques. The article provides extensive information about the history of the establishment of mosques that existed in the city of Yerevan, their architectural features and their role in the social and cultural life of the city. Based on archival documents and scientific research, it is determined that hundreds of mosques operated in the city of Yerevan and the territory of the Yerevan province as a whole at the beginning of the 20th century. The book "Monuments destroyed, Armenianized or attributed to other peoples in Western Azerbaijan (present-day Armenia)" published by Afgan Valiyev in 2023 provides information on 144 monuments, including mosques, that existed in the lands of Western Azerbaijan in various historical periods, especially after the last deportation in 1987-1991. Armenians, who were resettled and settled in the lands of Azerbaijan with the help of Tsarist Russia, ignored the rights of the local population and appropriated or destroyed the historical and cultural heritage created here over the centuries. In writing the article, complex and multifaceted methodological approaches based on historical facts - historical-analytical, comparative analysis methods - were used, the reliability, objectivity and origin of the information used were assessed using a source analysis approach, the available information was interpreted using a qualitative research method, and the political, cultural and ideological reasons for the acts of vandalism were explained. The research concludes that the mosques that existed in Yerevan are not only places of religious worship, but also important examples of material and cultural heritage reflecting the history, culture, and architectural traditions of the Azerbaijani people. Studying the history of these monuments and their scientific research is of great importance in terms of a more complete study of the historical and cultural heritage of the region.</jats:p>