/ 02.10.2023 / 15:08

October 2, Chairman of the State Committee on Religious Associations (SCRA) Mubariz Gurbanli met with the delegation headed by the head of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

The visitors got informed in detail on Azerbaijan’s religious situation, the model of coexistence based on respect and trust, including committee’s activities by the Chairman of the State Committee. The Chairman of the Committee has pointed out that all religions have been treated equally in Azerbaijan along with the country guarantees freedom of religion in spite of the majority of the population of Azerbaijan being Muslim and there is an ideal balance between secularism and religious values. Moreover, 995 religious communities have passed state registration, 37 of which are non-Islamic and Azerbaijani state constantly allocates financial assistance in order to support the activities of religious confessions residing in the country, the Chairman has underlined.

Touching upon religious education in Azerbaijan Mr. Gurbanli has highlighted that Azerbaijan Institute of Theology which established with the order signed by President Ilham Aliyev is a specialized educational institution in this field and has made a significant contribution to the training of professional theologians and religious scholars.

Mentioning the historic victory achieved in the 44-day Patriotic War under the leadership of Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and the local anti-terrorist activities carried out in the Karabakh region last month, Mubariz Gurbanli has stressed that Heydar Aliyev Foundation headed by First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva has been carrying out large scaled works on cultural and religious sites in the territories of Azerbaijan which were under the occupation of Armenian armed forces for 30 years.

Head of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has stressed an exemplary model of interfaith dialogue and coexistence that Azerbaijan demonstrates and assessed the secular approach to religion as a postivie case. The guest also particularly underlined the importance of creating all necessary conditions for the equal functioning of non-Islamic religious communities in Azerbaijan and the activity of the State Committee on Religious Associations in this direction.

Then, at the end of the meeting, which was attended by British Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld and Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Kingdom Elin Suleymanov, the guests were presented books published by the State Committee in English, which describe the atmosphere of religious tolerance in our country.