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Former Chairman of State Committee on Work with Religious Associations: â€œThere is radical wahhabism problem in Azerbaijanâ€

24 December 2008 14:57 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayevâ€“APA. â€œWe should plead guilty for problems related to Abu Bakr mosque. Foreigners chaired the mosque after construction at that time. There was not State Committee on Work with Religious Associations during that period. They abused it,â€ Rafig Aliyev, former Chairman of State Committee on Work with Religious Associations told APA.
Aliyev noted that he could not be linked with issue on Abu Bakr mosque.
â€œThis is very instigating issue. Abu Bakr mosque was constructed and registered in 1997. He was named after foreign company at that time. We bought the building according to balance of the state,â€ he added.
As regards the fact that Abu Bakr mosque created danger in the society Aliyev noted that he did not approach towards the mosque as a source of danger.
â€œThe danger is inside people. There is radical wahhabism problem in Azerbaijan. I have said it every time. All of men gathering to the mosque are not radicalâ€, he stressed.
Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan had achieved success in religion and noted that the problems in this field as a result of development of country and correct policy.
â€œAzerbaijan is a strong country at present. Most of reports made by international actors on religious associations in Azerbaijan are of slander and preconceived character,â€ he stressed.
He chaired Irshad Islam Investigation Center at present and compiled Arabic-Azerbaijani dictionary recently.
â€œI think that I was sent to an official journey when I was Chairman of State Committee. I have returned back to my place at present,â€ he said.

Abu Bakr