Hidayet Orujov: "Some radical forces aim to use religion for own interests"

The meeting has brought together religious communities, akhunds, religious figures as well as authorities of the Office of Caucasian Muslims (OCM) and its Board, APA reports.

The SCRC chairman Hidayet Orujiov said the objective of the meeting is to familiarize with the problems and difficulties that religious communities and religious men face and familiarize with their proposals. The Committee chairman also said strengthening relations between the SCRC and religious communities and establishing relations based on mutual confidence will be focused on.

Mr.Orujov said there exist religious tolerance and high level state-religion relations in Azerbaijan. However, he mentioned some problems in this sphere, including education of religious men and religious awareness being in low level, careless approach to import of religious literature as well as some religious communities' actions contrary to the Constitution and calls for seizing power by force. "There are radical forces in Azerbaijan who aim to use religion for political interests." Orujov said these problems represent danger to the state.

The Committee chairman also stressed that the government is taking care of religious sphere and making serious efforts to address the existing problems.

OCM chairman Sheikulislam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh said he believes that the State Committee for Religious Communities chaired by Hidayet Orujov will make more efforts to solve the problems stressing importance of cooperation in this sphere.

"No one should violate religious laws. We should fulfill our duty, the law on freedom of conscience should be obeyed," Pashazadeh said.