US forum celebrates Azerbaijan’s harmony: Perfect example of Jewish-Muslim coexistence Article by Avi Monakov

On the website of Israeli TV channel i24News, journalist Avi Monakov has penned an insightful article celebrating Azerbaijan's long-standing commitment to religious freedom. Highlighting the nation's respectful and inclusive attitude toward its Jewish community, the piece underscores how this Muslim-majority country has embraced religious diversity for centuries. We are pleased to present this compelling read to the audience of Caliber.Az.

Jewish organizations in Washington, DC, convened a forum in Congress last week that focused on the topic of religious freedom in the Caucasus. On the following day, the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) released a significant report, noting that Azerbaijan has become the first Muslim-majority nation to include a definition of antisemitism in its educational textbooks.

Rabbi Zamir Isayev, the chief rabbi of the Sephardi community in Baku, delivered a key presentation during the forum, highlighting Azerbaijan’s progressive stance on religious freedoms. “Nobody in Azerbaijan is questioning the loyalty of local Jews,” Isayev emphasized. “The notion that building bridges between Baku and Jerusalem could be against the interests of the Azerbaijani nation is simply absurd.”

Isayev further elaborated on the state of the local Jewish community, particularly focusing on its security, and underscored the Azerbaijani government's commitment to protecting Jews as part of its broader effort to maintain national stability. “Everyone knows that Azerbaijan shares a long border with Iran, which has historically tried to destabilize our schools and synagogues through proxies and hired criminals,” he stated. “We’ve never had to request extra security from the local secret service. They are always highly proactive, providing additional protection before any threat is even apparent. Our community is well-supported, and the Azerbaijani people are incredibly sympathetic to us.”

Isayev went on to share a particularly positive example of religious tolerance in Azerbaijan: “A Jew wearing a kippah can freely walk the streets without fear. Azerbaijanis associate Jews with Israel, and Israel is seen as an ally and a friend here.” He then extended an invitation to all forum participants, especially US Representative Timothy M. Kennedy, to visit Azerbaijan and witness firsthand the unique example of Judeo-Muslim coexistence that Azerbaijan is setting for the Muslim world. To further support his claims, Isayev distributed a recent research paper from the Begin-Sadat Center, which outlined the 30-year-long strategic alliance between Baku and Jerusalem.

The report was timely, as on the same week, IMPACT-se, a British nonprofit dedicated to analyzing global school curricula, published its findings. Their research confirmed that Azerbaijan had made significant strides in promoting religious tolerance in its education system. The organization reviewed 53 textbooks from Azerbaijan’s national curriculum, highlighting the removal of anti-Israel content and the absence of extremist Islamist rhetoric. IMPACT-se reported that Azerbaijan had become the first Muslim-majority country to officially define antisemitism in its textbooks.

The study concluded, “Azerbaijan fosters religious freedom and tolerance, offering an open environment where all religions, including Judaism, can thrive.” The curriculum includes teachings on the value of tolerance and harmony, with examples of Jewish prayer and rituals integrated into the education system. Judaism is portrayed positively in the textbooks, with a correct representation of the Holocaust as the genocide of six million Jews, emphasizing the persecution and atrocities rather than attempting to downplay or deny the historical events.

Marcus Sheff, CEO of IMPACT-se, praised Azerbaijan’s educational reforms: “The textbooks reflect a clear rejection of the extreme Islamist values promoted by their neighbour, Iran. Instead, they promote tolerance, diversity, and a deep respect for Jews and Israel, setting an important example for other majority-Muslim countries."

In another notable development, a Jewish artist has been chosen to represent Azerbaijan in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Thirty-two-year-old Asaf (Safael) Mishiev, the frontman of the Baku-based band Mamagama, will perform at the prestigious event. Mishiev, who is well known within Azerbaijan’s Jewish community, won a Mountain Jewish music competition in 2013 and has contributed to the local Jewish community by offering singing lessons to children and teenagers at the Jewish Community Club in Baku.