On 23 December, President Ilham Aliyev received at the President Palace a group of religious figures led by Chairman of Caucasian Muslims Board Sheikh ul-Islam Hajji Allahshukur Pashazade.

“Today is really happy day for us. Your goodwill, and assessment of religious and spiritual values, our national traditions give hopes the spiritual values of Azerbaijan will always be a priority,” said Sheikh ul-Islam.

He emphasized the great contribution of national leader Heydar Aliyev to the economic, spiritual and historical growth Azerbaijan is experiencing today. “It was him who with Allah’s help had brought Azerbaijan up to this level, and today you Mr. Aliyev continue this work successfully and worthily,” said Sheikh ul-Islam.

He also mentioned the Heydar Aliyev’s role of in development of sheikh ul-Islamism. “Upgrade the religious administration, introduce scientific spirit into it, His Excellency Heydar Aliyev recommended to me,” Allahshukur Pashazade recalled. He continued that as a result of this recommendation, he founded a Scientific-religious Council under the Caucasian Muslims Board, which apart from clergymen, involved well-known scholars and philosophers.

Allahshukur Pashazade expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his message congratulations on the 25th anniversary of his activity as Sheikh ul-Islam. “Delegations from 35 countries arrived on this occasion. Not all of the guests were Muslims. Representatives of Christians including Catholic Church and Jews were among them. The foundation of this tolerance was laid by your father, and today you are continuing this course” he said.

Allahshukur Pashazade further advised that according to Heydar Aliyev’s advice an Order Sheikh ul-Islam was founded, but expressed regret he did not have chance to confer it upon the national leader. “As you know the Scientific-religious Council and the Council of Qadis (judges) decided on awarding him the Order posthumously,” he said.

The Sheikh ul-Islam added that the second meeting had resolutely decided that Mr. Ilham Aliyev should be the first to be awarded the Order, and asked the President to read out the decision, which in particular says:

“Scientific-religious Council and the Council of Qadis decide on conferring the Order Sheikh ul-Islam upon Ilham Heydar Aliyev for successful continuation of historic traditions of the great leader His Excellency Heydar Aliyev, and outstanding contributions to strengthening the state independence of the Azerbaijan Republic, preservation of national, religious and spiritual values and ensuring tolerance in the country.”

Hajji Allahshukur Pashazade presented the Order Sheikh ul-Islam to President Ilham Aliyev.

Having thanked the Sheik and other attendees for the award, the President said that representatives of all the confessions existing in Azerbaijan enjoy equal rights and opportunities that is enshrined in the country’s Constitution. “The most important thing is that we can see this in reality. As a successor of the Heydar Aliyev’s political course, I am doing my best for his policy, the trends he had set to be continued in Azerbaijan”, he said.

Recalling the activities of Heydar Aliyev, the President said the Great leader both in 1970s and 1990s as a President of independent Azerbaijan attached paramount importance to preservation of the country’s national and spiritual values. “He realized that development of our country should be based on deep historical, cultural and religious roots”. President Ilham Aliyev appreciated the activities of the Caucasian Muslims Board and its Sheikh. “...your activities as Sheik of the whole Caucasus strengthen our country. At the same time they strengthen international positions of Azerbaijan,” he said.

The head of State expressed regret that he did not have the opportunity to take part in marking the 25th jubilee of the Sheik’s tenure as at that time was in Nakhchivan to meet with Iranian President.

He also touched upon the projects related to major repair of Tazapir Mosque in Baku and construction of that in BIbiheybat, and reminded of his wish to have a new, large and imposing Mosque built in Baku. “The work has already been started on the project, and construction site has already been found. I have given instruction for the project to be presented to you. Then we will discuss it together, and you together with the Scientific -religious Council will express your opinion. I want an imposing Mosque to be built for all Muslims enjoy it,” President Ilham Aliyev said.

In conclusion, the Head of State once again expressed his gratitude for the award.