Those who announce knock-down of mosques either do not see reality or turn close eye to it: religious associations committee head

APA: How do you assess current religious situation in the country?

Hidayat Orujov: The religious situation in the country is stable and normal. The government secures freedom of conscience of the people and takes important measures to strengthen legal basis of the state-religious relations, to maintain  existent atmosphere of tolerance, to strengthen cooperation between the religious confessions and to prevent tendencies of religious intolerance and confrontation. Unfortunately, there are radical groups which serve the interests of some foreign political circles. The Azerbaijani society does not accept them because those groups and persons have nothing to do with religion and they have no force of influence on the political situation in the country.

Q: How true are the recent reports about the recent closing of the mosques?

A: There is no ground for those reports. It is a slander. There are negative cases in the religious situations, but closing of the mosques are not the ways of elimination of those cases. The government of Azerbaijan is able to eliminate those negative cases and its work is dictated by the interests of Azerbaijani people and society. The people understand that it is necessary to strengthen control over the religious processes. If the radical groups serving the interests of foreign countries and forces are not prevented, they can create religious tensions in the country. No mosque was removed in the country. Only the mosque in Neft Dahslari (Oil Rocks ) was removed because it was under the threat of collapse. Unfortunately some groups try to describe removal of illegal constructions as a closing and removal of mosques.

Q: Please explain use of words “legal” and ‘illegal” concerning the mosque construction…

A: Some people try to introduce some buildings under the construction as a mosque. There is no word of “illegal” in the religion. There is “haram”. It means that illegal construction is haram. There are many facts in the history of Islam that the mosques turned into the nest of intrigues and provocations were removed. It occurred even in the period of Prophet Muhammad. A part of church territory was seized illegally during the Hazret Omar’s period and a mosque was built there. Omar received complaints about that and decided to remove the mosque and to return the territory to the church.

Q: How does the government of Azerbaijan care about the religious facilities and persons?

A: A total of 22 mosques are being built in the different regions of the country currently and construction of nearly 30 mosques was delayed because of financial problems. Why they don’t focus the construction of the mosques, but does focus removal of a building under the construction? I am proud that many holy places, Bibiheybat shrine, Icherisheher Friday Mosque, Ezhderbey mosque and other holy places were overhauled in Azerbaijan. Tezepir mosque complex was reopened on July 6 after major overhaul It is a large complex which meets both classic and modern architecture demands. Addressing the opening ceremony, President Ilham Aliyev said religion and the government are separate in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a secular country, but we are loyal to our national and religious traditions and values. Heydar Aliyev Foundation also attaches special attention to the restoration of the mosques and religious monuments. Azerbaijan is a country, where the mosques are built and reconstructed, but not removed.

Q: What is the stance of the State Committee regarding the closure of Abu Bakr Mosque?

A: You know, some persons in the society want the restoration of the mosque’s activity. Let me further tell you that the state committee has no interest in closure of any mosques. But bloody incident in the mosque claimed several lives. Some want the restoration of mosque’s activity, but not the punishment of the committers. Therefore, existing realities dictate closing of Abu Bakr mosque.

Q: Additions and amendments made to the law on Freedom of Religion were not accepted unambiguously. Even some labeled it as the government’s interference with religious affairs.

A: Unfortunately, some people do not understand the essence of additions and amendments made to the Law on Freedom of Religion and assess it as the government’s interference with religious affairs. It’s completely normal and natural to make amendments to some laws, including the Law Freedom of Religion in accordance with the level of development of Azerbaijani society.

/APA/