Azernews.Az

Azerbaijani citizens must not conduct religious rites in the form of aggression and interference in the secular norms of the state or pressure on state bodies, a Presidential Administration official told Trend news agency.

Ali Hasanov, head of the Presidential Administration's social and political affairs, was commenting on an attempt by over 100 radical believers to hold an unsanctioned rally in front of the Education Ministry building in Baku last Friday.

The protesters demanded scrapping a ban on headscarves, or hijabs, in schools. Despite the warnings of the police to stop disturbing public order, the protesters continued their illegal actions. Azerbaijani police say 65 demonstrators were detained and 20 police officers injured during the violent protest in the capital Baku. The city prosecutor's office filed a criminal case.

"We will make public our attitude toward the rally after the law enforcement bodies conduct an investigation," he said.

Hasanov said it is clear that some groups calling themselves religious activists are seeking to put pressure on the authorities.

Hasanov said worshipping is a private matter of every person. He also noted that Azerbaijan has a secular system, which separates religion and state.

"The state does not interfere in the affairs of religion, and religion does not interfere in the affairs of the state," Hasanov said.

"Since Azerbaijan is a secular state, the rules of conduct in the education system, official and other organizations are governed by the law. The law on education also states that each pupil must have a single uniform. Therefore, the attempts of some radical Islamic circles to present it as Azerbaijan's anti-Islamic policy are groundless," he said.

Hasanov added that all the religious communities in Azerbaijan will condemn these incidents and forces that support such incidents, and will not allow similar developments to occur in the future.

"We see the rallies held under the banner of Islam in foreign countries, numerous confrontations within countries, the pressure on state and cultural organizations," he said. "This pressure eventually hits these countries and peoples, while people behind this pressure use it for their own ends."

Hasanov said religious activity and the activity of religious communities in Azerbaijan are fully regulated by the existing norms and laws.

"The activity of all religious communities operating in line with the law is free. However, the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations and other bodies will take measures with regard to the communities that violate the law, social norms, and try to intervene in public conduct to satisfy their own ambitions," he said.