Azernews.Az

By Nigar Abbasova

The State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations has presented licenses to some 11 religious communities registered in the country, the committee reported.

Deputy Chairman of the committee Gunduz Ismayilov, addressing the ceremony, said that religious communities existing in Azerbaijan are of great importance for Azerbaijani society.

The constantly growing number of religious communities (the figure currently exceeds 665), belonging to different faiths, is considered to be the result of activities, carried out for preservation and strengthening of religious tolerance in the country. As many as 13 churches and seven synagogues are operating in the country.

Ismayilov called on communities to be more active, cooperate with akhunds and imams, and representatives of Caucasus Muslims Administration, as well as be more attentive to the issue of ideological security, suppressing all actions, calling for the confrontation between different religious trends.

He also emphasized the importance of ideological struggle against radicalism, as well as preservation of national traditions and spiritual values.

All religious organizations operating in the territory of the country should be registered with the Committee and obtain legal status, according to the legislation. The committee doesn't register sects, religious confessions or movements.

Azerbaijan, which supports all communities existing in the country, regardless their religious belief, has never experienced intolerance at confessional level. Despite the fact that some 98 percent of the Azerbaijani population is Muslim, the country has never had any religious conflicts.

Being a multinational state, the country provides for peaceful coexistence of members of different nations and religions in an atmosphere of peace, friendship, tranquility and mutual understanding

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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