Religion

Religion

Head of Bordeaux Mosque Tareq Oubrou: â€œThe high traditions of tolerance in Azerbaijan can be an example for other countriesâ€

19 April 2013 15:58 (UTC +04:00)

Baku – APA. A delegation of religious leaders from Bordeaux, France, traveled to Azerbaijan from 14–19 April on a study trip on the topic of secularism and religious tolerance in the Muslim world, in a visit organised by The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS). TEAS told APA that this delegation was headed by Tareq Oubrou, Head, Bordeaux Mosque, and Mufti to the South-Western region of France. The delegation also included Mouslim Charaffedine, Secretary-General, Muslim Federation of Gironde; Mrs Khadija Oubrou, Secretary-General, Islam Relief France and Head of its Bordeaux office; Didier Guedj, Representative, Regional Antenna Bordeaux Aquitaine Council of French Jewish Institutions and Central Consistory, administering Jewish worship in France; Guy-Antoine Castex, Director, Hexagone Partenaires, Co-founder, Fils de France think-tank and Pierre Conesa, Vice President, Association of French Victims of Terrorism. The purpose of the visit was to present the Azerbaijani experience of religious tolerance. The country is secular with a Muslim majority, yet ensures the peaceful coexistence of different religious communities, notably Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim.

During the trip the delegation visited Martyrs’ Avenue and the grave of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Avenue of the Honoured. During the visit, the delegation met Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs, who outlined the current state of Azerbaijani–French relations. He described the Azerbaijani separation between faith and state, stressing the need to maintain a peaceful atmosphere where all religious communities can coexist. The delegation also met Elshad Iskandarov, Head, Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations. Mr Iskandarov answered practical questions regarding the implementation of secularism in Azerbaijan. They also met Rafig Aliyev, Director, “Irshad” Islamic Research Centre and the leaders of religious communities of European and Georgian Jews .

The delegation also participated in the conference CIS Muslims for Peace and Sustainable Development where Mr Oubrou had the opportunity to meet Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Head of the Caucasian Muslims’ Council and Sheikh-ul-Islam for Azerbaijan and the Caucasus.

During a lunch organised by H.E. Pascal Meunier, French Ambassador to Azerbaijan, the delegation also met other religious representatives, including Alexander Ishein, Head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archbishop of Baku and the Caspian Eparchy; Yevdayev Milikh Ilhanovich, Head of the Mountain Jews Community in Baku; and the Catholic Bishop of St. Mary’s Father Vladimir Fekete.

The representatives also visited Bibi Heybat Mosque.

A trip to Quba was also organised, where the Bordeaux representatives met local authorities and went to the Red Village, a neighbourhood mainly populated by the Mountain Jews community. Boris Simonduyev, Head, Mountain Jews community, accompanied the delegation during a visit to the neighbourhood and two local synagogues. In Quba they saw the mass grave of massacre victims and the Blue Mosque. The Muslim delegates prayed in the Blue Mosque.

This trip is a preliminary step towards a series of conferences that will be organised by TEAS in France during the coming year on the topic of the Azerbaijani model of secularism and religious tolerance. The first conference will be held in Bordeaux on 15 June, bringing together academics, opinion-makers and civil society representatives wishing to reflect on the concept of secularism. This is a necessity in each society aiming to promote religious freedom and peaceful interfaith coexistence.

Delegation leader Tareq Oubrou gave a short statement on the results of the visit: “The meetings were very interesting, useful and held in an atmosphere of mutual trust. I and my colleagues were assured that Azerbaijan, one of the historical-cultural centres of the Islamic world is a secular and multi-confessional state. There are kind, friendly and cooperative relations based on mutual respect and trust among the religious confessions in your country. The high traditions of tolerance in Azerbaijan can be an example for other countries. I think it is important to study the rich experience of your country in this field and we’re ready to do our best to further Franco-Azerbaijani relations and to promote Azerbaijan in Europe.