Regional Conference was held on “Islamic solidarity: Modern Challenges and Religious Education”

Azerbaijan is an Islamic country and furthermore, world population of more than one billion has a professed belief in Islam that is an integral part of our moral values. As we are among those countries securing such values, we are obliged to protect Islam against external factors. These remarks have been expressed at the regional conference on “Islamic solidarity: Modern Challenges and Religious Education” held on June 22 with the joint organization of The State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of Azerbaijan Republic and Gabala Region Executive Power.
Law enforcement officials servicing in the region, the members of the Commissions for Religious Affairs, Chairpersons of the religious communities, religious figures, imams and akhunds, heads of organizations and companies, member of public and the youth attended the event. The Head of the Gabala Region Executive Power Mr. Sabuhi Abdullayev spoke about the importance of the conference held for the purpose of enlightenment, and the religious situation in Gabala. Additionally, he highlighted that the necessary condition has been developed for all the religious communities registered in the region to function. The Head of the Gabala Region Executive Power Mr. Sabuhi Abdullayev mentioning the importance of national and spiritual values particularly highlighted the state’s concern over this area. Moreover, he outlined that the significant measures are taken for providing freedom of religion and belief, as well as building mutual relations between religious communities in the region on a high level.
Chairperson of State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli stated that the main purpose of the event covers the adjustment of religion-state relations on a higher level, the religious education building and development, the prevention of radical tendency of the religious communities in the society, and the solutions of social problems. Moreover, the Chairperson of Committee took into consideration the successful continuation of the policy on the state-religion relations by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, which has been once implemented by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the high level of interreligious relations in Azerbaijan, as well as the protection of everybody’s freedom of religion and belief. Mentioning the complete change in attitude toward religion in the Republic after Heydar Aliyev's second return to power, and the display of respect towards our national-spiritual values and religion in all times, Chairperson of the Republican Council of Elders, MP Fattah Heydarov highlighted the successful continuation of this policy by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in recent times. Fattah Heydarov also stressed that the atmosphere of ethnic and religious tolerance in our country is an example to the world, the religious or national and racial discrimination does not exist in our country, at the same time, the representatives of all the peoples living in Azerbaijan, and people from different religions display a mutual tolerance for each other.
Participating in the conference, region gazi of the Caucasian Muslims Office Jeyhun Rustamov spoke about the state-religion relations in our country, and the state’s concern over the religion, simultaneously, outlined the significance of strengthening religious education. He further stressed the traditional Islamic values and current issues. The Chairperson of the Albanian-Udi Christian Community Robert Mobili spoke about the tolerance environment in Azerbaijan, maintaining everybody’s freedom of religion and belief irrespective of their religious affiliation, the state’s attitude and concern towards religious denomination, adding that the historical establishment of a tolerant society in Azerbaijan also provided the way for the new environment enabling the minorities and ethnic groups residing in Azerbaijan, as well as Udi people to maintain their existence. The conference was concluded by the Head of the Gabala Region Executive Power Mr. Sabuhi Abdullayev.