Non-Muslim Religious Minorities in Azerbaijan From Their Inception Through Russian Empire and Soviet Repression to Present Day Secular State of Azerbaijan |
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Author:
| Fautre, Willy |
ISBN: | 978-1-4935-6015-8 |
Publication Date: | Oct 2013 |
Publisher: | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
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Book Format: | Paperback |
List Price: | USD $6.99 |
Book Description:
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Located in the Caucasus region of Eurasia and at the cross-roads between the West and the East, Azerbaijan has not only considerable strategic importance; it also has symbolic value as an example of openness and exchange.At different times in history, the present-day territory of Azerbaijan was part of several empires as well as the homeland of various ethnic groups which contributed to the shaping of its current cultural, religious and linguistic identity. Though massively populated...
More DescriptionLocated in the Caucasus region of Eurasia and at the cross-roads between the West and the East, Azerbaijan has not only considerable strategic importance; it also has symbolic value as an example of openness and exchange.At different times in history, the present-day territory of Azerbaijan was part of several empires as well as the homeland of various ethnic groups which contributed to the shaping of its current cultural, religious and linguistic identity. Though massively populated by Muslims (96%), Azerbaijan is a secular country where people of different confessions - Islam, Christianity, Judaism and others - have lived together for centuries in peace and harmony. In the last week of August 2013, a delegation of Human Rights Without Frontiers Int'l visited a dozen non-Muslim religious communities and their places of worship in Baku and in the north of the country, talked to ordinary believers, interviewed their spiritual leaders and collected a wide range of testimonies about the mutual perception of their communities, their inclusion in the construction of the Azerbaijani identity since independence from the late Soviet Union, inter-religious relations and relations with the state authorities.Human Rights Without Frontiers Int'l also met with representatives of the Caucasus Muslim Board (CMB) that oversees state-registered Muslim organizations and is the official face and voice of Azerbaijani Islam. Human Rights Without Frontiers Int'l visited the famous Bibi-Heybat Mosque in Baku, built in the 13th century and blown up in 1934 by the Soviet regime, reconstructed and enlarged by the Presidential decree in 2005 with state fund. Human Rights Without Frontiers Int'l also paid a visit to the modest place of prayer of a charismatic imam whose peaceful and inspiring sermons attract thousands of Muslims on Friday, particularly many youth. Last but not least, an important meeting could be organized with Minister Elshad Iskandarov, who is in charge of the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations, and his staff.Fundamentalist ideas have no success in Azerbaijan, anti-Semitism is non-existent and inter-religious peace prevails both inside the Muslim community and between the main historical religions because mutual respect, solidarity across the denominational borders, dialogue and tolerance are the core values underpinning Azerbaijan's secularism.