State-religion relations in spotlight in Sumgayit
By Nazrin Gadimova
A regional conference on the state-religion relations and educational activity was held in Sumgayit on August 22 for the chairmen of religious communities, religious leaders and religious activists from Sumgayit - Absheron region.
The conference was organized by the Azerbaijan State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations and the Eurasian Regional Center of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum.
The objectives of the event were the regulation of the state-religion relations at a higher level, the organization and carrying out work on religious education, as well as the involvement of religious communities in the suppression of radical trends in society and the solution of social problems.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Elshad Iskandarov said that this conference is the sixth in a series of similar events held in different regions of Azerbaijan.
The Head of the State Committee said that such activities have a positive impact on the state-religion relations and added that the process of returning people to the national and spiritual values has accelerated after Azerbaijan gained independence.
Iskandarov emphasized that at the initiative of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev the number of renovated chapels and shrines has increased.
"However, certain movements try to spread their ideology by using religion," Iskandarov said. "We see this in various countries of the world. Although this problem is not as noticeable in Azerbaijan, we can not say that we are fully insured against it."
According to Iskandarov, the main purpose of the religious communities is proper religious propaganda.
In turn, Head of the Executive Power of Sumgayit Eldar Azizov said that this conference is one of the most important events, which targets to strengthen the religious education in Azerbaijan.
He also spoke about the overhaul of the Juma Mosque in Sumgait, which was held at the initiative of the President of Azerbaijan.
Deputy Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Fuad Nurullayev and MP Musa Gasimli praised the activities, which is being held at the initiative of the State Committee and said that religious leaders should always work on themselves.
The conference continued its work in different plenary sessions, which hosted presentations on the themes "The state care about national and spiritual values", "Traditional Islam in Azerbaijan and foreign influence", "Dialogue between madhhabs (religious jurisprudence) in the name of unity".
The conference was attended by about 150 people.