UK conference highlights Azerbaijani religious tolerance
The UK parliament has hosted a conference highlighting the Azerbaijani model of religious tolerance, initiated by Vice President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, Azerbaijan's AzerTac state news agency reported.
The conference, titled "European Multiculturalism Prospects: Azerbaijani Model of Interfaith Dialogue and Religious Tolerance", was co-organized by the London-based Anglo-Azerbaijani Society and UK-based Odlar Yurdu organization, and supported by Azerbaijan's State Committee on Religious Organizations and the country's embassy in the UK.
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation vice president attended the event, which was aimed at introducing to the British political and scientific elite Azerbaijan's model of religion-government relations, religious tolerance and interfaith cooperation.
The conference brought together members of the UK House of Lords, members of both the ruling Conservative and opposition Labour Parties, government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in London, and activists of the Anglican, Jewish and Muslim communities in the UK.
The conference was opened by the chairman of the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society Lord Fraser, who hailed Leyla Aliyeva's initiative to promote the Azerbaijani model of tolerance in Europe. He praised the Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s efforts in developing global dialogue among cultures and religions.
Chairman of Odlar Yurdu Ilham Naghiyev said Azerbaijan`s achievements in ensuring religious tolerance could set an example for European countries.
Azerbaijani Ambassador Fakhraddin Gurbanov stressed the importance of the conference in exchanging experience between Azerbaijan and Europe.
Chairman of the State Committee on Religious Organizations Elshad Iskandarov said the conference was "a first high-profile event on religious tolerance in Azerbaijan held abroad". He stressed the importance of the fact that Azerbaijan`s experience in interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance is discussed in the context of European multiculturalism.
Leyla Aliyeva, who also acts as General Coordinator of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum, delivered a report on the issues of religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue. Mrs. Aliyeva said Azerbaijan`s experience was "a successful model for finding a solution to this universal problem". She said Azerbaijan has ancient traditions of religious tolerance, adding that people of different religions have lived side by side in the country in peace for centuries.
The first plenary session of the conference heard reports on the history of Islam, Christianity and Judaism in Azerbaijan by PhD in history Farida Mammadova, PhD Moshe Becker and founder of the Center for Religious Studies Elchin Asgarov.
The second plenary session was addressed by representatives of the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities in Azerbaijan. They stressed the importance of Azerbaijan`s experience of interfaith dialogue, saying it sets an example for Europe. The speakers proposed founding a center for interfaith dialogue and tolerance in Azerbaijan.
Later in the day the participants of the conference viewed "Azerbaijan - home to cultural traditions and tolerance" exhibition organized by the State Committee on Religious Organizations at Baku Culture Center in London.