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Sheikhulislam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade: Best conditions are provided for wahhabists in Azerbaijan

11 July 2007 12:38 (UTC +04:00)

Chief of Caucasus Muslims Office, Sheikhuislam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeâ€™s interview with APA

-You pay regular visits to the regions along with the chairman of State Committee for Religious Affairs Hidayat Orujov. Is it connected with unstable religious situation in the regions?
-We meet with religious men and concern ourselves with the situation. We want to improve interreligious relations. It is important to be aware of the real situation in the regions. We talk to the people and define the level of freedom of conscience. We intend to visit almost all regions. We will soon visit Aran regions. Generally, there are no serious facts that may cause anxiety in the religious sphere in Azerbaijan. Some forces try to exaggerate the situation. Especially the opposition tries to take advantage of the religious factor.
-Reports spread about religious confrontation in Mingachevir. What is the problem with?
-There are a group of men who what to politicize the situation. A mosque has been built in Mingachevir. They try to divide it into two parts Sunnite-Shiite mosques. The people perform prayer there altogether. This is our traditions. This confrontation is based on political motives. Maybe foreign forces influence on them. We discussed it with the State Committee for Religious Affairs. The state committee supports our position. Islam, not Sunnite-Shiite should be promoted in Azerbaijan.
-Wahhabists built a lot of shops near Abu-Bakr mosque and engaged in trading. They say the area is now called wahhabist settlement. Are you aware of the problem?
-I am aware of the events. Controlling religious communities is in the competence of the government, not Caucasus Muslims Office. We expressed our concern and government should think about it. The conditions created for them in Azerbaijan are best of all. Why these conditions are created for them? Baku Mayorâ€™s Office is more active in preventing such constructions. I believe that Mayor Hajibala Abutalibov will help solve this problem.
-The prices for Hajj pilgrimage increased this year. What are the reasons?
-It is natural. The prices may increase again. I myself reviewed the places where our pilgrims will stay. The matter is that customs expenses have increased in some countries, as well as in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, we had to increase prices for Hajj pilgrimage.
-A group of religious men from Baku villages visited Karbala and Najaf. What is the attitude of the Caucasus Muslims Office to the case?
-We intended to organize this pilgrimage first. We wanted Iraqâ€™s embassy in Azerbaijan to ensure the pilgrimsâ€™ security. Since they refused doing it, we did not deal with the problem. The people should know that nobody ensures their security and be careful.
-Rumors often spread about your healthâ€¦
-Maybe those who are weaker than me spread these rumors. Some want it to be true. I have no health problems. I only have intervertebral hernia. But this is not fatal illness. God Almighty knows when you will die./APA/