Azerbaijan’s religious tolerance model discussed in London

A conference on Azerbaijan’s religious tolerance and co-existence model has been held in London, UK.

The event was organized by the London-based Faith Matters organization.

Participants in the conference included head of the Caucasian Muslims` Board Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Archbishop of Baku and Azerbaijan Eparchy Alexander Ishein, Chairman of the Religious Community of Mountain Jews in Baku Milikh Yevdayev, State Adviser on Multinational, Multicultural and Religious Affairs, academician Kamal Abdullayev, Executive Director of Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azad Mammadov, and Azerbaijani Ambassador to UK Tahir Taghizade.

Founder and Director of Faith Matters Fiyaz Mughal made an opening speech at the event, and highlighted religious tolerance in Azerbaijan.

He said representatives of different religious communities had lived in Azerbaijan in an atmosphere of friendship for centuries, and highlighted the importance of studying this experience.

Ambassador Taghizade said Azerbaijan had rich multicultural and cultural traditions. A truly shining example of this, he said, is an Armenian church that still stands in the central square of Baku despite the occupation of 20 per cent of Azerbaijan`s territory by the Armenian units.

State Adviser on Multinational, Multicultural and Religious Affairs Kamal Abdullayev hailed President Ilham Aliyev`s attention to tolerance traditions in the country.

Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade thanked Faith Matters and the Azerbaijani Embassy for assistance in organizing the conference.

Archbishop of Baku and Azerbaijan Eparchy Alexander Ishein said representatives of different religions and nations lived in Azerbaijan in peace and solidarity.

AZERTAC