Azernews.Az

A senior Iranian cleric has reportedly issued a warning to Azerbaijan over alleged Islamic phobia in the country, just weeks after a similar statement made in Iran’s holy city of Qom.

"A while ago I made a speech about Azerbaijan and issued a warning over Islamic phobia there," Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi was quoted by Iranian media as saying.

"Most Azerbaijanis are Shiites. But the authorities have been pressing on people and destroying mosques," Shirazi claimed.

Shirazi also criticized the alleged ban on the spread of religious literature in Azerbaijan and claimed that students and government officials have been lately forbidden to worship in mosques.

The cleric said Iranian ayatollahs would like to see "the success and joy of the Azerbaijani people".

"Defending Islam is the demand of the Shariah. We would like for stability to reign in all Islamic countries, particularly, in neighboring ones."

In October, Shirazi threatened the government of Azerbaijan while addressing a sermon at a mosque in Qom. He said Azerbaijani officials should "learn a lesson from the developments in the region" and accused the country’s authorities of "taking down mosques and attacking people". Shirazi also alleged that the pious people of Azerbaijan "will not let this go on".