Azerbaijani journalists visit religious sites in Guba during media tour PHOTO

Azerbaijani representatives of media outlets have visited religious sites in Guba during a media tour arranged by the Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations.

The tour was held as part of the conference titled Coverage of Religious Issues in the Media: Shared Responsibility for Maintaining Religious Stability, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The initiative aimed to give participants a closer look at Azerbaijan's rich religious and cultural heritage, its long-standing traditions of tolerance, and the conditions created in the country for the free functioning of various religious communities.

The first stop of the tour was the Juma Mosque. Built in the 19th century, the mosque is one of Guba's oldest places of worship and occupies an important place in the city's religious and spiritual life. Distinguished by its unique architectural style, the mosque is protected by the state as a historical and architectural monument.

Participants then visited the Sakina Khanum Mosque, where they were introduced to the architectural features of the historic place of worship, preservation efforts, and the activities of the local religious community.

Officials noted that the mosque was built in the mid-19th century using the personal funds of Sakina Khanum Bakikhanova in memory of her husband, Abbasgulu Agha Bakikhanov. Constructed from red brick and featuring elegant architectural elements, the mosque is regarded as an important part of Guba's religious and cultural heritage.

The media tour later continued to the Krasnaya Sloboda settlement in the Guba district. At the Altı Gumbaz Synagogue, media representatives were told that the synagogue was built in the 19th century and played a significant role in the religious life of the community.

Once one of the region's main places of worship, the synagogue has since been restored and is protected by the state. It continues to operate today as an important example of Azerbaijan's religious and cultural heritage.

Journalists also visited the Museum of Mountain Jews. Established in 2020 in the building of the historic 19th-century Karchagi Synagogue, it is considered the world's first museum dedicated to Mountain Jews.

The museum houses a rich collection of exhibits reflecting the history, traditions and way of life of Mountain Jews, including traditional clothing, religious artifacts, manuscripts, rare books and household items dating back to the 19th century.

As part of the media tour, participants also had an opportunity to exchange views with representatives of religious communities and receive answers to questions of interest.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov