Azerbaijan sees no serious threat in religious movements expanding activities
Expansion of activities of several religious movements in the country does not pose any threat for the Azerbaijani government.
"Representatives of not only Wahhabism and Nurcu movements, but also of other religious sects, are functioning in Azerbaijan, and they try to expand their activities in the country," Head of the Public and Political Issues Department of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration said on April 16.
Ali Hasanov told journalists that this is observed not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the whole South Caucasus, the post-Soviet area and the world in general.
Hasanov noted that there are forces, which try to impact the religious movements' activities by using religious interventions, missionary activities and dividing people in accordance with their religion.
"This is happening in Azerbaijan as well," Hasanov said. "The relevant state bodies conduct necessary work in this regard."
Hasanov added that such forces will face the country's laws and law enforcement officers if they pose a serious threat.
"In general, the Azerbaijani society should be informed that
such cases and attempts take place, but these attempts are
suppressed and will be suppressed by the government," Hasanov
stressed.
He went on to add that there is no need for any other will but the
will of Azerbaijani state, its people, the activities of people who
were granted a mandate by the country's citizens and the
requirements of the laws in force.
Unfortunately, mandatory norms, that some religious sects define for their members, counteracts the principles of civil society and the Azerbaijani statehood.
"No religious belief and no religious activity should be carried out in the form of intervention in Azerbaijani state's secular norms. Intervention in secular norms unwittingly results in legal responsibility, and eventually appropriate measures are taken in case of revealing such facts," Hasanov said.