Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

An international conference “Islamic solidarity: Harmony of religious and cultural diversity” co-organized by the Caucasian Muslims Office, the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, Baku International Multiculturalism Centre and International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation kicked off in Baku on April 12.

Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office, Sheikhul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, opening the event, said that Azerbaijan, playing the role of Islamic world's cultural, religious and civilizational center between East and West, and embodying antiquity and modernity, made a great contribution to the formation of atmosphere of tolerance and multiculturalism, intercultural dialogue, as well as promotion of Islamic culture in the world.

The Muslims, Orthodox, Catholics, Jews and members of other religions live in a friendship, brotherhood atmosphere in Azerbaijan and benefit state care and attention.

There is a rare example of religious harmony in the country, Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office added.

Speaking at the event, Mubariz Gurbanli, the Head of Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations said that the most important issue facing humanity today is the preservation of peace.

“The world is in danger. There are a lot of conflicts. Only in our region there are several conflicts, including the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan,” Gurbanli said.

He added that attempts are being made in the world to link Islam with terrorism. "Later it turns out that the terrorist act was not committed by a Muslim. Therefore, as far as the Muslim world is united and in solidarity, it is equally possible to react to this tension and pressure jointly," Gurbanli said.

Speaking at the event, Vice Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Parliament Bahar Muradova said that today, the world is threatened by a policy based on territorial claims, economic and military interests, and on ethnic division.

"Azerbaijan is one of those countries where the laws regulating its national, religious and ethnic relations are based on the millennia formed relations between the peoples and nations living here, on the rules of living together and in harmony. It has not come to us from outside, it is our way of life, the form of our self-expression. Therefore, today Azerbaijan acts as a bearer of multicultural values, and can speak and address calls for Islamic solidarity," the vice-speaker said.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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