Participants of 7th OTS religious leaders meeting tour Baku’s Icherisheher PHOTO

Participants of the seventh meeting of religious leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) visited the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the House of Tolerance in Icherisheher, Baku.

The guests toured the 14th-century religious and architectural monument of the Keykubad Mosque, located within the Palace complex, as well as the mausoleum of medieval scholar Seyid Yahya Bakuvi, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

During the visit, the religious figures were briefed on the history of the mosque and the work of the renowned scholar.

Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims’ Board, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazada, told the guests about prominent Azerbaijani thinker, philosopher, poet and Sufi scholar Seyid Yahya Bakuvi, who lived in the 15th century.

“He was born in Shamakhi and later moved to Baku, where he continued his activities,” Pashazadeh said.

He emphasized that Bakuvi was one of the most prominent representatives of the Khalwatiyya Sufi order and promoted moderate Islamic values. His works hold an important place in Azerbaijani and Eastern Sufism.

The chairman also noted that Bakuvi is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in the history of Azerbaijani philosophical and religious thought.

The participants then visited the House of Tolerance, which began operating on November 16, 2024. The center showcases Azerbaijan’s centuries-old traditions of tolerance and multiculturalism.

It was noted that the center’s main purpose is to promote the coexistence of people from different religious and cultural backgrounds based on mutual respect and understanding. Its exhibits represent various religious traditions, including Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

The religious leaders viewed holy books, religious artifacts, and historical and ethnographic items displayed at the House of Tolerance. They paid particular attention to the sacred covering of the Kaaba presented to Azerbaijan by Saudi Arabia.

The seventh meeting of religious leaders of the OTS, organized by the Caucasus Muslims’ Board, will be held in Baku and Aghdam on September 14–16. Around 200 religious figures from nearly 40 countries and 18 international organizations are expected to attend the event.

By Jeyhun Aghazada