Rabbi: All conditions created in Azerbaijan for free practice of all religions

Chief Rabbi of the Synagogue of Mountain Jews in Tel Aviv Shmuel Simantov has said that all conditions for free practice of all religions have been created in Azerbaijan.

He made the remarks while commenting on the statement of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about inclusion of a number of countries, including Azerbaijan, in a certain "special watch list" in connection with freedom of religion.

"I was born in Baku. Two years ago my activities in Azerbaijan ended and I am now in Israel. In Azerbaijan I was a rabbi in the Oguz district, in the synagogue of Georgian Jews in Baku, and the director of the Hebrew sector in school number 46. I am a religious person and have never encountered any problems in this sphere in Azerbaijan. Despite the attempts of external influence, all conditions have been created in Azerbaijan for the free practice, not only of Judaism, but of all religions. We have always celebrated all our religious holidays in Azerbaijan without any obstacles, freely walk with the Torah in our hands in the streets," the rabbi told Trend.

He emphasized that every year funds are allocated for synagogues, churches, mosques in Azerbaijan.

"There are two synagogues in Oguz, 5 in Guba, 3 in Baku. All of them are allocated funds. In addition, their security is provided by the state," he added.