A seminar-conference on the topic "State-religious relations in Azerbaijan: history and modern times" was held.

On August 22-23, the State Committee for the Work with Religious Organizations (SCWRO) and the Gabala Region Executive Power organized a two-day seminar-conference on the topic "State-religious relations in Azerbaijan: history and modern times". The event, with the participation of believers, chairmen of religious communities, youth and other members of the public, was opened by the Deputy Head of the Department of the Administration of the Gabala Region Executive Power for Social, Political and Humanitarian Issues, the organizer of work with religious organizations Absalam Huseynov. He stated that Azerbaijan has always cared for all religions and different culture-bearers. Speaking at the meeting, First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for the Work with Religious Organizations, Sayyad Salahli, emphasized the importance of taking measures to promote exemplary state-religious relations, protecting our national and moral values, as well as strengthening tolerant and multicultural traditions, including the importance of active use of social networks by religious figures. He said that the religious policy of our state today is based on the policy of democratic state building, laid down by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, a political leader and a worthy successor to a great leader, much attention is paid to the establishment of human rights and freedoms, in particular, the establishment of freedom of conscience and religion, the protection of our national and moral values, as well as the education of people, especially young people, loyal to our values. According to S.Salahli, great responsibility rests on the shoulders of our religious leaders, theologians in the fight against forces that are hiding under the cover of religion, distort Islam, spread superstition, ignorance, voice calls that can cause disagreement between people, spread discrimination against religions and materials that can seriously damage relations with other religions. They must actively bring the beauty, humanity, values and solidarity of Islam, our religion to our people, not only through the mosque, but also through social networks. The First Deputy Chairman called on the clergy to demonstrate integrity and activity in exposing the true face of the groups operating under the cover of the struggle for high religious ideas, seeking to undermine stability in our country, using the strength and capabilities of social networks. Ramil Bakhshaliyev, an employee of the Department of Religious Education of the State Committee, noted that there are groups trying to turn religion into a means of satisfying various political interests. A common feature of such groups is that they can achieve a dividing function by eliminating the unifying factor of religion in society. Talekh Abdullaev, the Head of the Sheki Department of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, Tarhan Pashazade, an employee of the SCWRO, and others in their speeches brought to the attention that in our country there have never been any disputes, contradictions or other unpleasant moments between religions and nations. Speakers also spoke about the work being done in the country to protect and promote national moral and Islamic values. The two-day seminar-conference, during which the documentary film “The Future on the Horizon”, filmed by order of the SCWRO, was also demonstrated, ended with discussions. The seminar was attended by Zulfugar Jafarov, Head of the Gabala REP Department for Work with Territorial Government and Local Authorities of the Gabala Region.