Religion

Baku. Parvin Abbasov – APA. Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations of the Republic of Azerbaijan gives interview to APA

- How do you value religious stability in Azerbaijan now?

- There is a quite high religious stability in Azerbaijan. The relations between the state and religion are regulated, developing and freedom of faith is protected and tolerance is strengthened. The state of Azerbaijan is taking all necessary measures to protect freedom of conscience. There is a strong legal basis which is reflected in the realities of Azerbaijan. Foreign experts, government officials, ministers, political scientists, theologists, Caucasian researchers concluded that Azerbaijan is an example not only in the region, but in whole world. All of the processes are under the control.

- Who are inclined to radicalism and extremism in Azerbaijan, as you mentioned before and what measures are taken against them?

- We know who are inclined to radicalism and extremism, but the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations is a political organization and central executive body. We are pursuing the state policy in the religious sphere and addressing the problems of the religious organizations. There are security organizations to address the problem of radicalism. In comparison with the previous years, radical and extremist activities were reduced. They are funded outside of the country and they have no relation to the religion. They are misusing democratic atmosphere and freedom of conscience to commits actions against the country. The Azerbaijani society has a principal position against such forces. We have highly-developed and intellectual society and secular state system is a choice of our people. The radicals have no prospects and necessary and strong measures are taken for prevention of them. We intend to solve this problem with a progressive and educational method because they are our citizens and we want them to avoid bad actions. There are positive results of this process, but it has not been completed yet. They have no relations to the religion and they are criminals. If someone stored arms and ammunitions at home, how it can be related to the religion?

- You told they are funded outside the country? What foreign countries are behind them?

- Of course, we know what country has an interest in Azerbaijan. There are such states which intend to interfere intensively, but some countries are not active. All of Muslim, Christian and other countries intend to export their methods of relations between the state and religion to Azerbaijan. Such tendencies were reduced in comparison with the previous years.

- There was some criticism against the council under the chairman of the state committee for investigation of construction and reconstruction of the divine places. What is your reaction to the ideas that this council was established to keep government’s control over the construction and reconstruction of the mosques?

- According to the law on freedom of faith, the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations expresses an opinion about the construction, reconstruction and repair of the divine places. It investigates needs of divine places because sometime such places are used for other goals, for example business. The State Committee expresses opinion on the basis of the decision of the executive bodies addressing this problem. Earlier foreign countries funded the construction of the divine places, but now it was suspended. If there is a need in divine places, its construction is allowed and its architectural style is chosen. The divine place should be constructed on the basis of the Azerbaijani architecture. There are some mosques constructed in 1990s and early 2000s, which have strange elements. Not only the experts of the State Committee, but also representatives of the State City-Building and Architecture Committee, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, National Academy of Sciences are in the council. According to the instruction, representatives of the religious communities are also invited to the council discussions.

- Some Azerbaijani newspapers and websites mentioning religious problems have foreign tendencies…

- Of course, we also feel that. Essence of information makes us to know what newspapers or websites release it. All of them have no relation to the religion and they are very harmful groups, which spread misleading and slanderous information. They are misusing democratic atmosphere in the press.

- What is current situation around the re-registration of the religious communities? Do the religious communities not applying the state committee until January 1, 2010 have a chance to be registered?

- Earlier there were serious problems with the registration of the religious communities, but relevant amendments have been made to the law. We continue registration of the new religious communities. Those who were registered early should apply until January 1, 2010 and most of them have applied and they were registered, but some of them were refused in registration. Necessary features of the believers should be their religious knowledge, moral loyalty and honesty and respect to the laws. Everything should be carried out within the national laws. According to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, religion is separate from the state, but the citizen is not separate from the state. The religion is speared, but the state is responsible for the religious situation in the country. The religion shouldn’t be politicized and shouldn’t serve economic, foreign and anti-Azerbaijan interests. It should save its holiness, independence and purity.

-Did the State Committee reject the registration of an Islamic community after the Caucasian Muslims Office gave positive opinion? How many religious communities were rejected by the State Committee?

-The State Committee is closely cooperating with the Caucasian Muslims Office and other religious centers. But there are such communities. The registration of 30 communities was rejected. 17 of them are Islamic, the rest non-Islamic communities.

-The Koran was burned in the US on the eve of the anniversary of September 11 attacks. Caricature of Prophet Muhammad was drawn some years ago. What can you say about it?

-Such actions are inadmissible. But exaggeration of such actions does not favor the solution of the problem. The Koran was burned – of course this is a crime, those who did it must be punished. They know that they can not erase the whole Koran by burning its several copies. Every Muslim has a Koran at home, even non-Muslims have Koran. Muslims also have Torah, Gospel. Both drawing caricatures and burning the Koran are antireligious, inhuman actions. But there are other serious problems in the world. Armenia has been occupying 20 percent of our territories for 20 years. They have destroyed our religious, national monuments both in Western Azerbaijan – present Armenia, and Azerbaijan’s Nagorno Karabakh region and surrounding territories. Armenians appropriated the monuments of the ancient Azerbaijani state Caucasian Albania. It should be kept on the agenda.
There are forces in some countries that demonstrate intolerance towards other religions. The actions of such forces serve violation of the interreligious relations and create problems for the mankind. They should be reproached. We should benefit from real Islamic values, promote Islamic morality and culture. Sectarianism inside Islam should be weakened, radicalism, extremism eliminated.

- We would like to know your opinion on the annual report on the international religious freedom issued by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor of the US Department of State.

- First of all, I should say that the Azerbaijan-related part of the report contains a number of positive points. The report praises the official inauguration of the Tezepir mosque after reconstruction, declaration of Baku as the capital of Islamic culture, overhaul of a number of mosques in Absheron peninsula. The report says that the international conference in Baku, which was also attended by the Armenian catholicos, is an improvement in the respect towards freedom of religion. Moreover, the report also notes that there are no anti-Semitic cases in our country. But the analysis of the document gives reason to say that there are a number of inaccurate data in the report. Taking into account the Department’s previous reports containing untrue information, sometimes facts are received from unreliable sources, are included into the report without being specified. It also causes regret that the religious situation in Azerbaijan is not analyzed fully objectively. The document contains common words and assessments. Some of the ungrounded data were taken from the previous reports and most data in these reports are not true. It is not known which period this report covers. The report does not cover the real situation in the country.

- The issue on wearing hijab at school is being discussed in the country. Even Education Minister Misir Mardanov said some forces exaggerated it, organized protest actions. Do you think there is a hijab problem in Azerbaijan?

- Discussion of this issue despite the adoption of the law proves that some forces are interested in it. Azerbaijan is a secular country. The law on education openly indicates that clothes of schoolchildren must be regulated in accordance with the statute of the educational institution. Education Ministry demands from the pupils to wear school uniform. It is the duty of every citizen to obey the laws. Azerbaijani state wants to see educated future generation. Islam condemns use of force, it gives the right to choose. Therefore, no one has the right to involve others in any activity by using the religion, exerting pressure. Unfortunately, some families make their underage daughters wear hijab. Of course, underage girls do not realize the essence of Islam, they will make their choice after reaching the age of majority. But a group of people hold protest actions and say they will not let their daughters go to school without hijab. Usually protest actions, rallies are held to lead the people from darkness to the light future. Those who organize protest actions call people to act illegally, want to deprive our children of the right to education. Parents should think seriously over this issue should not deprive their children of the right to education. Let’s imagine that girls are allowed to wear hijab at shools. Boys can also come to school wearing imamah. On the other hand, Azerbaijan is a multinational, tolerant country. If hijab is permitted, the representatives of other religions can wear clothes in accordance with their beliefs. Logically, they must not be said “no”. Can you imagine what will happen? Hijab is free in our country, everyone can wear it. But the state agencies have their rules. I am glad that the local media, men of sense, parliamentarians demonstrate unanimous position on this issue. Those who attempt to create agiotage will not achieve their goals again. Our society trusts in our state, its leadership, laws and supports them.

- The fact of gashing head with sword has not been recorded in Ashura ceremonies recently. But beating with chains was observed in some mosques. What do you think about it?

- Gashing head and beating with chain, or any other kind of self-flagellation is banned in Islam. Normal people should not admit it, either. Which is better to gash head, beat with chain or participate in the blood donation action for children suffering from thalassemia? Caucasian Muslims Office issued a fetwa before the Ashura and asked people not to beat themselves with chains, gash their heads. It was obeyed in most places. Investigations show that those who want to gash their heads and beat themselves with chain are the members of the group financed from the same point. They visit mosques and carry on propaganda. It is inexpedient to prevent such actions with administrative measures. Positive results can be produced by raising awareness. Media also has to do much concerning this issue.

- We would like to know whether famous writer, honorary art figure Hidayat Orujov is engaged in creative activity or not?

- No, I do not have time to be engaged in creative activity. There is much to do in the State Committee. I usually come to work at about 9 and leave almost at night. It is impossible to be engaged in creative activity having rigid schedule.

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