Azernews.Az

Azerbaijan’s clerical body has labeled the recent strongly-worded statement by a leading Iranian cleric that mosques are being demolished in Baku as libelous and unacceptable.
In a statement, the State Committee on Religious Organizations said it was disappointed with the allegations by Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, a leading Iranian conservative and pro-government cleric, branding them "as libelous views unbecoming a religious figure".
Shirazi maintained Wednesday that Azerbaijan’s authorities are reportedlty taking down Shia mosques and intend to demolish other mosques as well. He said a formal message had been sent to the Azerbaijani government over the alleged destruction of Islamic shrines, calling for this to stop. Shirazi also noted that "if the destruction of mosques continues in Azerbaijan, we will order to show resistance" and that "those who die for this cause will be considered martyrs."
The State Committee said the demolition of illegally constructed buildings that were presented as mosques had been authorized by court rulings, and that politicizing the issue was wrong.
"Adding a political coloring to these decisions is unacceptable. Everyone should be aware and accept the fact that Azerbaijan is a secular state that is governed by secular laws. Moreover, no one should ponder ‘importing’ the state-religion relationship of other countries to Azerbaijan. Dividing Azerbaijan’s Muslims into creeds, discriminating between them, in other words, setting Muslims against each other would not honor anyone."
Lately, other Iranian clerics have also protested at what they called the destruction of the Fatmei-Zahra mosque in Baku. Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani, a senior Iranian religious figure, has appealed to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, saying he was troubled over the alleged attack on the shrine.*