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Hidayat Orujov: Some groups benefiting from democratic climate try to escalate tension between religions and sects in Azerbaijan

08 May 2007 12:25 (UTC +04:00)

The committee chairman said the aim of his visit is to closely get acquainted with religious situation in Gusar stressing the importance of religious stability for Azerbaijan. Hidayat Orujov said there are both Islamic missionaries and missionaries of other religions in Gusar.
â€œGusar people always tried not to be object of foreign influenceâ€. He said Azerbaijan governments pursue policy which is better than propagating any sect. â€œState approaches all religions equally. Despite the fact 96 percent of Azerbaijanis are Moslems the state do not discriminate any of religions in Azerbaijan. This is an indicator of democracyâ€.
Hidayat Orujov said individual groups making advantage of the democratic climate in the country try to stir up one religion against the others and thus raise the tensions between religions and sects.
â€œSuch radical groups exist in Azerbaijan and in Gusar. They recruit faithless and weak-minded people enticing them with money. Gusar has durable historical traditions. This means radical groups have no perspectives in Gusar. Though those are small groups people are disturbed by their existence,â€ he underlined.
According to him, the religion is separate from the state in Azerbaijan to develop, exist independently and not to be politicized. He said civil society has accepted this model.
â€œAzerbaijan has its own model of development and historical course. The secularism is not imported to Azerbaijan and it is the fruit of mind of nations inhabited in Azerbaijan. The whole world highly appreciates the tolerance between religions and sects in Azerbaijan,â€ the committee chief concluded. /APA/