Official: Azerbaijan completing restoration of Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque in Shusha

First Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations Sayyad Salahli has said that the restoration of the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque in Azerbaijan’s Shusha city is under completion.

During the period of occupation, Armenians destroyed 63 out of 65 Azerbaijani mosques, Salahli told reporters, Report informs.

“Islamic attributes and signs were completely destroyed. We are restoring mosques,” he said.

The first deputy chairman noted that restoration work in the territories liberated from occupation began long ago.

“Restoration of the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque is under completion, the Ashaghi Govhar Agha, Saatli mosques and others are being restored. Extensive restoration work is underway in Shusha. Besides the restoration of the former image of Shusha, a new image of the city is being formed. The restoration of Shusha, our mosques, religious monuments is one of the main priorities,” he said.

“We treat all religious temples with love and restore them. I think that this is one of the main differences between us and the Armenians. The Russian Church and the Ghazanchetsots Church are being restored. This is an expression of the spirit of tolerance of the Azerbaijani people,” Salahli told APA.

The first deputy chairman noted that mosques in Shusha will be open for worship, but some of them may receive the status of a museum.

Salahli noted that all the destroyed historical and religious monuments in the liberated territories will be gradually restored.

“The Armenians did not completely destroy the Govhar Agha, Aghdam and other mosques to avoid the condemnation of the international community. They were not completely destroyed, like a number of others in Shusha. All mosques will be restored for residents returning to their hometown to be able to visit them for prayer,” he added.

“The Armenians destroyed everything and even the places of Christian worship to completely destroy the Azerbaijani trace in the city,” the first deputy chairman said.