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Conference "Freedom of religion, missionary work and media" held in Baku

07 March 2014 16:30 (UTC +04:00)

Chairman of the Press Council Aflatun Amashov said that freedom of religion is reflected in the Constitution. He said that the Azerbaijani media has always supported the policy of religious freedom and tolerance.

Addressing the conference, Head of political and public affairs department at the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov said that the religious tolerance, one of the progressive values, has turned into a model of coexistence in the Azerbaijani society: "No religious discrimination or conflict has ever happened in Azerbaijan, there have been progressive relations based on mutual confidence and respect. Azerbaijan is providing necessary conditions for religious activities within the law and mosques are being reconstructed at the expense of the state."

Hasanov noted that the rapid development of Azerbaijan, the stability and tolerance in the country and civil solidarity don't meet the interests of some internal and external forces and certain foreign religious circles: "Recently, various missionary organizations controlled from abroad and religious sects are actively engaged in forming public opinion that meets their goals, strengthen radical tendencies and get opportunities for an impact on state administration system. Attempts have increased to influence citizens with seductive methods, change their thinking and outlooks by teaching radical religious ideas and to violate the harmonious rhythm of life of the society and the current socio-political stability by setting up various illegal communities and directing their activities."

Hasanov also underlined that state-religion relations in Azerbaijan are regulated in accordance with the Constitution, laws and international obligations: "The relevant agencies are taking and will take necessary measures timely and within the law towards the organizations that don't comply with the laws and social norms and are carrying destabilizing activities under the influence of interested external circles."

President of APA Holding LLC Vusala Mahirgizi said that Azerbaijan is one of the few countries in the post-Soviet area regulating freedom of religion within the law: "Azerbaijan is one of the unique countries where a mosque, a synagogue and a church are located in the same street and representatives of all three world religions come to their places of worship and perform their rituals freely. Unfortunately, in some cases, freedom of speech and activities of some sects aimed at religious schism are confused, harmful missionary work is propagated. Another important issue in this regard is the isolation of missionary work from the context of propaganda of any religion or sect and its transformation into a form affecting the pubic interest, harming the fundamental principles of the state where it has spread, aimed at destroying the national views and promoting changes on state administration and governance structure."

Mahirgizi said that one of the main targets of missionary sects is to exercise control over media: "Today's discussion of this matter shows that our country is not free of these threats. The media has a great responsibility for the issues discussed today. First of all, the media should raise awareness in this direction and differently approach to different threats. Today, the main task of the media should be raising awareness about complications of these threats, its negative impacts on the Azerbaijani society and its future, training personnel being able to approach each threat as individual and specific one, organizing joint seminars with the Religious Committee in this regard, not publicizing an issue without learning it deeply, not becoming a megaphone of any harmful religious trend. I consider that there is a need for a unified ideological concept regarding this issue."

Editor-in-chief of "Baku-Xeber" newspaper Aydin Guliyev said that certain sects are attempting to place their representatives in the NGOs, media and government agencies.

Editor-in-chief of "Yeni Azerbaijan" newspaper Hikmet Babaoghlu noted that different sects and trends are currently funded by Islamophobic forces. Editor-in-chief of

"Haqqin.az" website Eynulla Fatullayev noted that salafism and nurculuk are threats to the Azerbaijani state.

MP Chingiz Ganizadeh underlined that the amendments made to the Criminal Code related to terrorism and mercenaries were discussed at the parliament's Committee on legal policy and state building and will be discussed at the Committee on defense and security.

Other speakers also spoke about the harm of missionary work and task lying ahead of media in fighting against it.