Azerbaijan dominated by Muslims, but experiences same attitude towards reps of all religions

“Although the religious composition of the population in Azerbaijan is dominated by Muslims, the attitude towards representatives of all religions is the same. Azerbaijan occupies an important place among countries where discrimination on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, anti-Semitism has never been recorded.”

The remarks came from Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, Mubariz Gurbanli, on May 19, according to Report.

According to him, religious and ethnic diversity in Azerbaijan is not limited to any part of the territory.

"Religious and ethnic diversity is spread throughout the country, which is an indicator of the centuries-old residence of various peoples in our territory within mutual respect and understanding," Gurbanli said.

Promoting a multi-religious coexistence has been a key part of Azerbaijan’s strategy to demonstrate moderation, tolerance and diversity in a country of 10 million, where nearly 96 percent are Muslim.

Three percent of Azerbaijan’s population are Christian; less than 0.2 percent are Jews; and 0.2 percent are either unaffiliated with any religion or belong to minority religious groups. Currently, more than 2,000 mosques, 14 churches, and seven synagogues are operating across the Caspian region country.

Azerbaijan’s exemplary religious tolerance made it possible to achieve a peaceful coexistence between the country’s Muslim majority and more than 16,000 Jews and over 250,000 Christians living in the country.